Two and a half years of hair. Time to let it go.

For the last two and a half years, I’ve been growing my hair. If you’ve met me through Blue Nation, Help for Heroes, football, or anywhere else, chances are you’ve only ever known me with long hair.

On Saturday 5 December, it’s all coming off.

I’m shaving my head to raise money for Ian’s Chain, an incredible local charity founded in memory of Ian Savill. Ian’s Chain supports people experiencing mental health crises, works to prevent suicide, and stands alongside families whose lives have been affected by suicide. Every year they support hundreds of people when they need it most, and they rely on donations to continue that life-changing work.

But I didn’t want two and a half years of hair to simply end up on the barbershop floor.

Instead, I’ll be donating it to the Little Princess Trust, who provide real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people who have lost their hair through cancer treatment and other medical conditions. They also fund vital research into childhood cancers, helping to give hope to children and families facing unimaginably difficult times.

When I really stopped and thought about it, the decision was easy.

A little girl going through a life-threatening illness deserves long, flowing hair far more than I do. Mine is going to spend September, October and November being thrown around on stages across the UK while I’m being a twat with Blue Nation. After that, it’s time for it to go and do something that really matters.

So, if you’d like to see me with long hair one final time, come and catch us on our UK tour. Blue Nation’s show at The Crossing on Friday 28 November will be the very last chance before it all comes off a week later.

The fundraiser will close on Saturday 5 December, and that’s the day the clippers come out.

If you can spare a few pounds, I’d be hugely grateful. Every penny raised will go directly to Ian’s Chain, helping them continue supporting people and families through some of the darkest times in their lives. My hair will then begin a new journey with the Little Princess Trust, where I hope it can give a child a little confidence at a time when they need it more than ever.

Thank you for reading, thank you for your support, and thank you for helping me turn two and a half years of hair into something that can genuinely change lives.