31 July 2023 , 15:00
559
0
Jumps trainer Christian Williams has had a “drastic” haircut to support his young daughter who has been undergoing chemotherapy.
Six-year-old Betsy Williams was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia during the week of the Cheltenham Festival in March this year.
Earlier this month she began the first bouts of chemotherapy treatment which is set to go on for six months.
As a result she has lost her hair and her father, who normally sports a long, shaggy-haired look, has had his own haircut.
He explained his new appearance on Sky Sports Racing after being quizzed about his appearance by presenter Luke Harvey at Uttoxeter on Monday.
Cherished girl, 3, who spent half her life in hospital dies before surgery
“This is Christian Williams who formerly looked like somebody out of Glastonbury,” said Harvey. “That’s a bit of a drastic haircut.”
The trainer said: “The little one is not very well at the moment. All her hair came out last week. I was booked in anyway, so I decided to take it all off.”
Williams and wife Charlotte revealed this month that they had endured some dark days since their daughter received her diagnosis.
They told the Racing Post they had been overwhelmed by the support received from members of the racing industry which has helped raise over £27,000 for the Children’s Cancer and Leukaemia Group with £22,000 coming from a special crowd fund.
"Things have felt a bit desperate sometimes and we've been down in the dumps and had our dark days, but people have just been so kind. It really lifts you – even just the messages on Twitter,” Charlotte said. “People's kindness gets you through the crappy days.”
In April the Williams-trained Kitty's Light gained the first of two emotional triumphs for the family when winning the Scottish Grand National, following by the Bet365 Gold Cup.