CUSTOMERS enjoyed a makeover in exchange for a donation to a hospital that saved the life of a salon owner’s sick son.

Martin Gold organised the fundraising day at his business, MG Hairdressing in The Broadway, Stanmore, to raise money for the renal unit at Hammersmith Hospital.

His son Nicholas, 40, underwent an operation at the hospital to remove part of his bowel following a diagnoses of a rare organ-disrupting disease called amyloidosis.

All the family turned out on Sunday, along with most of the stylists and welcomed fundraisers and clinicians from the hospital in Acton, west London, to the balloon-filled parlour.

Mr Gold, 66, said: “It went even better than we anticipated and we are around the £4,500 mark for donations. It was just a brilliant day. We had people getting haircuts and head massages and we had manicures going on – we were full the whole day.

“People have been wonderful because they know the history of what’s happened to Nick and what’s still to come and how we sing the praises of the renal unit and hospital generally. It’s amazing the level of support we have had and your original article did help and it boosted the morale of the hospital staff when they read it.”

Sunday’s proceeds, along with donations in lieu of presents for Nicholas’ 40th birthday on February 20, a total of £6,000, will be split between the renal unit and The Imperial Kidney Fund.

In September 2011, Nicholas went to Barnet Hospital in Barnet, with cellulitis, an inflammation below the skin caused by bacteria, but staff were so concerned they transferred him to Hammersmith Hospital where his condition worsened and seven of his organs began to shut down due to amyloidosis.

The quantity surveyor, who lives with wife Maree, spent three weeks of a 14-week hospital stay in a coma following surgery. For 12 months he was fed mechanically and he endured chemotherapy for six months.

Mr Gold said: “He’s managing to carry on as normal life as you can, going backwards and forwards to the hospital three or four times a week.

“This year he will possibly have a kidney transplant. Nick, my daughter and I are going to talk to the hospital on April 2 and start having blood tests for capability.”

n Mr Gold has organised a charity golf day in Barnet on July 31 and anyone interested in taking part can email him at martin@martingold.org.