over six years
A nine-year-old Preston boy who cut his hair for charity raised £ 800 for two worthy causes.
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Toby Parkinson had his long hair cut, the first since he was a child, on his ninth birthday in front of more than 200 people in a dance competition.
The money raised will be split between Destination Florida, which takes sick children from Northwestern Florida, including trips to Disney World, and Lancashire Teaching Hospital Charity’s Children’s Appeal.
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Toby heard the call from mum Kathryn Parkinson, a health assistant in Ward 8, the children’s ward at Royal Preston Hospital.
Proud Kathryn said: “Toby was about two or three years old when he last had his hair cut. It was his first haircut, and he lost all of his cute baby curls.
“He always wanted to keep his hair long, but right before his birthday he announced that he decided he would like to be shorter. He’s a thoughtful boy. He knows that I work in the children’s department 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 her hair cut in the contest, he raised £ 300 that day.
He also donated his hair to The Little Princess Trust, which makes real wigs for children who have lost their hair during cancer treatment.
On her big day, PNE fan Toby, twin sister Lucy, big sister Bethany, 17, mother and the Preston Crusaders Morris dance troupe were at a competition in St Helens.
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Toby, a student at Pool House Community Primary School in Ingol, spoke for hairstylist Dawn Martin, whose daughter Willoe is also a cast member.
Roya Armstrong is the fundraiser for Children’s Appeal, which aims to raise £ 1million for a shopping list of items for outpatients and inpatients for children at the Royal Preston.
Armstrong said, “Toby has done an incredibly generous thing. It was his birthday, but he was the one making the donation. Donating to ourselves, Destination Florida and The Little Princess Trust will help so many children.
“We hope he had a fantastic day.”
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To learn more about the Children’s Appeal, visit – www.lthcharity.org.uk/childrensappeal
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