CHILDREN fighting cancer have been given a helping hand after Cherries Trust chairman Tony Maycock stepped up to give something back - though probably more than he bargained for.

Inspired by 10-year-old cancer patient Felix Brown the trust chairman was stripped of nearly all his body hair as he volunteered for a charity wax.

As previously reported, brave Felix has been documenting his own battle against lymphoblastic leukaemia since he was diagnosed in January.

Mr Maycock tried his best not to wince as Amanda Baverstock, owner of the Ducky Fuzz salon in Moordown, gently applied and quickly removed lime green wax.

Mr Maycock said he was prepared to have "everything but" taken off.

"I was ill when I was younger and I'm always looking to do little bits here and there to raise money," he said, adding that he has already helped causes relating to Huntington’s and cancer.

"I was sat at home watching TV and thought I'll raise a bit of money. Having followed Felix's diary it seemed like a good enough cause.

"I thought about shaving my head but my colleagues reminded me I'd done it before. They said 'get yourself waxed'. My initial reaction was perhaps a little rude.

"But when they started putting their hands in their pockets it soon became apparent it would be well worth it.

"It really is a great cause and I have raised more money than I had hoped to."

Mr Maycock's original aim was to raise £250. But he's smashed the target twice over with friends and supporters helping him to raise £600.

In total the Justgiving page has seen more than £2,700 raised for Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens whom Felix recently recorded a video for.

The young Cherries fan was on hand to give Tony some much-needed support, claiming that the wax smelled like sweet and sour sauce.

He said Tony was very brave but admitted he wouldn't be offering to have anything waxed himself anytime soon.

"Well done," he said, accompanied by his mum Kerry and sister Talia.

"We're just in awe of him doing this; it's just brilliant," Kerry said, adding that it was a great contribution to the family's cause.

"Both children have done amazingly well. It's been a lot to cope with but they have been great."

Visit justgiving.com/fundraising/TheDiaryofMrFelixBrown to donate to the cause.