Naomi Elliott

[p]CELEBRITY barber Tom Baxter has pledged to cut hair free-of-charge for 24 hours next month in a bid to raise vital cash for the region's sick and premature babies.[/p][p]Multi-award winning Tom was inspired to hold the ‘Baxter Barberthon’ at his Newcastle Coast Road shop after Godson Jacob Elliott, now aged 2, suffered a rare heart defect in utero and spent time on the special care baby unit at Newcastle's RVI.[/p][p]While clients, including MTV stars and Newcastle United/Sunderland AFC footballers, can ordinarily expect to wait up to three months for an appointment with the British Master Barbers' Barber of the Year, Tom is keeping his chair open constantly between 8am on Sunday, April 29 and 8am on Monday, April 30 2018 for people to secure sought-after appointments.[/p][p]Anyone can book a slot in the charity chair but the father of two, the North-East's first 'Master Barber' and international educator within his profession, is hoping his 32,400 Instagram followers will also help bolster bookings and keep him busy throughout the night.[/p][p]Tom, 32, from Cullercoats, North Shields, who holds seven different awards for barbering, said: “I won't be charging anything so technically yes, this is a free hair cut. But it goes without saying that we will be twisting people's arms to part with some cash, with every penny raised going to the Tiny Lives Trust.[/p][p]“It wasn't until my Godson Jacob was born two years ago that I even realised what amazing work goes on in the special care baby unit at the RVI, not just with premature babies but with sick, full term ones too.[/p][p]“Jacob's heart was beating three times as fast as it should have been and there is no doubt that with that abnormal heart rhythm, and without the care he received, he would not be here today.[/p][p]“Tiny Lives helps to fund a raft of additional things on the unit, over and above what the NHS provides. We are all so grateful for the start Jacob was given and I wanted to do my bit to give something back now he is a fit and healthy two year old.”[/p]