Hairy Biker Goes Bald For Charity

A motorcycle fan from Oxford who sported long hair for over a decade has hit the headlines after shaving off his locks so that it can be made into a wig for a child with cancer-related hair loss.

According to the Oxford Mail, the biker Matthew Hipkin had been ribbed by his friends for years about his long hair. But he finally took the plunge after hearing about the Little Princess Trust, an acclaimed UK charity that makes real hair wigs for children with hair loss caused by chemotherapy or alopecia.

Confidence-boost for kids with hair loss

Spurred on by motivational comments like 'You will look so much younger and light headed' left by his supporters, Matthew faced the chop.

The full-time house-husband with a three-year-old son named Leo (pictured), told the Oxford Mail: “I get a great feeling knowing that my hair is going to charity, and will provide a child with a real wig. I believe it will give them a little bit more confidence than a synthetic one.”

In addition to the donor hair, real hair wigs cost around £300 to make, and Matthew, 41, wanted to send in cash with his locks. He set about raising sponsorship, with most of the donations coming in from friends via Facebook.

So far, Matthew has far exceeded his £100 target, raising £345 at the time of writing - enough to make at least one child's wig - and he is still accepting donations via his JustGiving page.

Fascinated by bald head

Matthew  is delighted that his young son is fascinated by it and can’t stop stroking his newly-shiny scalp - as you can see from the photo! His wife Abby, meanwhile, told the Oxford Mail she was thrilled his hair had gone to the Little Princess Trust but admitted she would miss it.

Though the sensation of running his hand over his bald head feels “very odd” at the moment, Matthew has not said whether he will be growing his long locks back again.

In the short-term at least he will need to come to terms with caring for his exposed scalp; as we are currently in the grip of a UK heatwave suncream or a hat is a must now his hair isn't there to protect him from the sun's rays. As someone who's been riding motorbikes for the past two decades, the keen biker will also need to make sure his helmet still fits without his hair to cushion it!