by Anna White
awhite@thekmgroup.co.uk

A disabled teenager said goodbye to his curly locks to help raise funds for a £4.5million sports centre.

Alfie Draper, from Mary Last Close, Snodland, had a full head of hair, but he was willing to go for a shorter style if it meant extra donations for a swimming pool and improved sports hall at Valence School, in Westerham.

The 14-year-old sports fan, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy and is visually impaired, has been a pupil at the specialist centre since he was 11 and was keen to do his bit to help hit the multi-million-pound target.

The teen, the youngest of eight children, asked his 29-year-old hairdresser sister, Sandy Steele, to do the honours in front of family, teachers and classmates.

When asked what he thought of his new look, the youngster, who dreams of being a journalist or sports commentator, simply replied it’s “cool”.

His mum Lulu said: “It was entirely Alfie’s idea and we are so proud of him.

We have already been pledged almost £500 and expect more will follow once people realise what he has done for his school.”

Head teacher Roland Gooding said: “We are thrilled that Alfie has chosen to do such a selfless thing to help boost our appeal.

"While we wouldn’t normally approve of our pupils shaving their heads, we were prepared to make an exception as it was shortly before the school holidays. Alfie is a terrific teenager and is an inspiration to us all.”

The pool and sports centre will help the specialist school provide hydrotherapy and physical activity for pupils, and build more spacious and appropriate changing facilities.