A nine-year-old Preston boy who cut his hair for charity has raised £800 for two worthy causes.

Toby Parkinson had his long hair cut, the first since he was a toddler, on his ninth birthday in front of over 200 people at a dance competition.

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The money raised will be split between Destination Florida, which takes unwell children from the North West to Florida, including trips to Disney World, and Lancashire Teaching Hospital Charity’s Children’s Appeal.

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Toby learned about the appeal from mum Kathryn Parkinson, a healthcare assistant on Ward 8, the children’s ward at the Royal Preston Hospital.

Proud Kathryn said: “Toby was about two or three when he last had a haircut. That was his first cut, and he lost all his lovely baby curls.

“He has always wanted to keep his hair long, but just before his birthday, he announced he had decided he’d like to go shorter. He’s a thoughtful boy. He knows I work in the children’s ward and that I have accompanied children to Florida. We decided to make his re-style a charity event.”

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Kathryn set up a fundraising page, but by having his hair cut at the competition, he raised £300 on the day.

He also donated his hair to The Little Princess Trust, which makes real wigs for children who have lost their hair undergoing cancer treatment.

On his big day, PNE fan Toby, twin sister Lucy, big sister Bethany, 17, mum and Preston’s Crusaders morris dancing troupe were at a competition in St Helens.

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Toby, a pupil at Pool House Community Primary School in Ingol, took to the floor for hairdresser Dawn Martin, whose daughter Willoe is also a troupe member.

Roya Armstrong is the fundraising manager for the Children’s Appeal, which aims to raise £1 million for a shopping list of items for children’s out-patients and in-patients at the Royal Preston.

Armstrong said: “Toby has done an amazingly generous thing. It was his birthday, but he was the one doing the giving. The donation to ourselves, Destination Florida and The Little Princess Trust will help so many children.

“We hope he went on to have a fantastic day.”

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For more on the Children’s Appeal, visit – www.lthcharity.org.uk/childrensappeal

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