Short cut to charity goal

A nine-year-old footballer had a haircut on Tuesday and raised £300 in sponsorship for the James Lilley Leukaemia Appeal.

Owen Eaton of Hawton Lane, Balderton, is the goalkeeper for Grove Rangers Terriers.

He said he and his mother, Mrs Maggie Eaton, had read about James in the Advertiser, and he decided he wanted to do something to help the appeal.

“I’m going on holiday soon and thought it would be a good idea for me to have my hair cut really short,” he said.

His parents, Mr and Mrs Richard Eaton, said they were proud that Owen had decided to do something to help and so had agreed he could have a grade one cut — the shortest available.

He had his hair cut at Street Talk hairdressers, Barnbygate.

He was sponsored by his family, parents’ work colleagues and friends at school.

He even put in some of his own pocket money and plans to send a letter to James along with a cheque for the money raised.

James (9) of Wolsey Road, Newark, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia last month and is having chemotheraphy at the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham.

He has decided he wants to raise money for the E38 Ward where he is being treated.

James, who lives with his grandparents, Mr and Mrs Derek Cobbledick, was allowed home from hospital on Friday but had to be readmitted on Monday night.

A raffle at the New Newark Youth Football League presentation evening raised £338 which, together with a £50 donation from the committee, has been used to buy James a laptop computer to use to ensure he can keep up with his schoolwork.

His other grandfather, Mr David Lilley (60) of Byron Close, Newark, is planning a raffle that will be drawn on August Bank Holiday Monday.

He said he had already had a great response from local businesses for prizes, and hoped to be able to raise at least £5,000.

An account has been set up at the Newark branch of the Natwest Bank for the money raised.