At the age of almost four, Elijah Edney has never had a haircut in his life.
But now he can’t wait to visit the barber’s – for two reasons. Losing his 2ft long golden tresses will mean that strangers stop mistaking him for a girl.
And the hair will be donated to charity, to provide a wig for a child with cancer or other conditions.
Elijah Edney needs to raise £350 for his hair to be turned into a wig for children with cancer. He has never had his hair cut but decided to take his first trip to the barbers because he is mistaken for a girl.
Mrs Edney and her husband Dean, from Buckland, Hampshire, will give their son’s locks to the Little Princess Trust, which helps youngsters suffering from hair loss.
Elijah, who has a six-year-old brother, Beau, is looking forward to having a spiky, two-inch crop.
Mrs Edney, a dinner lady, said: ‘Elijah has always had beautiful hair, so I let him grow it like he wanted. It’s like silk.
‘But now it is at a stage where people mistake him for a girl and he wants it cut into a boy’s haircut.
‘He will be four next month but everyone thinks he is a girl and he’s started to get frustrated.
Elijah’s shorn hair will go to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children with cancer and other hair-loss illnesses.
Mrs Edney and Elijah’s father, Dean Edney, want to collect enough money – £350 – to transform it into a wig for a sick child.
Mrs Edney said: ‘I couldn’t bear to see all Elijah’s beautiful hair go to waste and my mum mentioned about charities that use human hair to make into wigs.