Long-haired Desborough dad's lockdown short back and sides was 14 years in the waiting

A Desborough man who had described his look as "sasquatch" has braved the shave of his waist-long hair and voluminous beard to raise money for charity yesterday (Friday).

Father-of-three Sam Darton, 30, had stopped having his hair cut in 2006 whilst he was a pupil at Montsaye School but has chosen the NHS Charities Together to benefit from the £500 sponsorship he has raised so far.

Due to lockdown restrictions his partner Eva Vitamvasova, 34, was asked to act as hairdresser at their home watched by their children six-year-old Oliver, Adam, three, and baby Freda, three months.

He said: "My head feels cold, I can feel the wind which I haven't felt for years.

"My hair was really bugging me so I'm quite happy. Eva has never seen me with short hair before. I looked like sasquatch.

"My mum has spent literally years saying 'why don't you get your haircut' and now she's 'why are you getting it cut?' But she's donated £40."

Sam's hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children and young people, up to the age of 24, who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment or other illnesses.

He said: "To be honest I just don't have the patience to have long hair anymore. It was a real pain in the neck and took ages to deal with.

"It's normal for teenagers to be slightly rebellious. I was stubborn and thought why should I conform.

"I grew my hair because of the music and bands I was into, but now I think back it's absolutely nothing to do with how you look on the outside."

Partner Eva had prepared for the fundraiser by studying online tutorials.

Eva said: "It's quite exciting. It's actually like having a new boyfriend without cheating.

"I watched a video of how to do a haircut and tried it on our eldest son but it didn't go that well. Cutting the ponytail was like trying cutting a carpet."

Sam, who is a full-time carer for his children, used to work for the NHS and chose to raise money for the NHS Charities Together.

Sam added: "There has been so much about PPE and I have a soft spot for the NHS. I strongly advise people to work there at least once in your life.

"You have no idea what goes on behind the scenes."

You can donate to Sam's fund by clicking here to go to his Facebook fundraising page.

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