This is the big one! I've always said that the only way I could ever cut my dreads off would be if I did it for charity, now I'm finally going through with it!

It's been fourteen years of having these things dangling from my head, and we've had some good times! They've been brown, blonde, black, pink and purple (mostly at the same time!) They've made for some interesting fancy dress choices (dressing as a palm tree was particularly special), and most memorably they have inspired so many complete strangers to strike up a conversation with me, whether it's to ask if they can touch it, or just to enquire about where they can buy the best drugs (I don't know, sorry!) These dreadlocks have come to define me in some way, and it's going to be very strange walking around with all that weight off my head!

I'm happy to have found a great charity that I can give my full support to, who I know will really appreciate the funds and will put them to good use. Street Action is the UK partner of a small charity called New Generation, that looks after street children in Burundi. More than just feed and provide shelter for them, New Generation's aim is to train their young people to become future leaders, to help bring Burundi out of the cycle of violence and poverty.

I have met the founder, Dieudonné Nahimana, who was once a street child himself and has gone on to create this charity. He is doing incredible work to heal the divisions of the civil war. My good friend Nathan is also currently helping them to build their new campus in Bujumbura, the capital of Burundi.

http://newgenerationburundi.org/

It's a worthy cause, and I really appreciate anything you can give.