Newtown boy gets hair cut for first time in 8 years as part of cancer charity fundraiser and donation
A NEWTOWN boy who made national headlines after growing his hair for almost a decade has had his mane cut for charity.
Bertie Pilkington, 12, visited Headroom Hairdressing in Inches Yard, Newbury on May 13 to have his hair trimmed.
This was the first possible opportunity, as hairdressers had only just reopened.
However, the Park House School pupil had not had his hair cut since he was four-years-old.
His locks have now been donated to the Little Princess Trust, which designs wigs for children with conditions resulting in hair loss, or who are undergoing cancer treatment.
Bertie told the Newbury Weekly News that he found his new hairstyle much more comfortable and practical.
"I prefer it a lot more like this," he said.
"It doesn't get as knotty, and it feels a lot more smooth.
"You don't have to worry about it as much.
"Once I'd got home from school, we went straight to Headroom.
"We got my hair into bunches, then cut them all."
A JustGiving page set up to support the initiative has raised more than £1,200.
All proceeds are to be turned over to the Little Princess Trust too.
Bertie said he was delighted with the response to his fundraising.
He added: "It's really amazing that people actually do it - they give up some of their money, and they realise that cancer is a big problem."
