TWO years on from a terrorist attack which claimed 22 lives at the Manchester Arena, a Moulton schoolgirl is raising money in memory of one of the young victims.

Musical Orla Geraghty, 9, has raised almost £600 for the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust, set in honour a young Scottish piper who was tragically killed at the Ariana Grande concert on May 22, 2017.

Eilidh MacLeod, who had relatives in Winsford, was aged just 14 when she died and, ever since that fateful evening, her family have set out to ensure her legacy or fun, friendship and love of music lives on for others.

Drumming major Orla, who is part of Manchester Community Pipe Band, said: “It’s a charity that is close to my heart as Eilidh was also in a pipe band just like me. I love Ariana Grande and it made me sad when I heard about the arena bomb on 22 May, 2017.

“I have taken part in band events supporting the charity and also the Manchester Massed Bands in May 2018. I would like to help all I can to remember those that were hurt or who died that night.”

Orla decided she could raise funds to support the charity, which helps children and young people to advance their musical education – by chopping at least seven inches off her waist length hair.

She’s also helped a second worthy cause and donated her lopped locks to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs for youngsters who lose their hair in cancer treatment.

Orla added: “I decided to do it because I wanted to help other people. I really wanted to do something to raise money help Eilidh’s family, and thought that if I got my hair cut I could donate that to charity too so that someone else who doesn’t have hair can feel a bit better.”

Orla’s mum Lisa, who is also a piper and plays in Manchester Community Pipe Band along with Orla’s dad, Paul, and twin brother, Louis, said: “We’ve been involved in a few events to help the trust through the pipe band, it’s a great cause so I was really proud of her when she said she would like to help.”

Orla’s hair was cut at Fibre Wilmslow, and although she was a little nervous at first, she says she now ‘really likes’ the shorter length and plans to keep it that way so will think of other ways to help raise money for charity in the future.

justgiving.com/orla-geraghty