Welsh superstar Gareth Bale covers up his new Alice band - with pair of PANTS
FANS will be relieved to see Welsh superstar Gareth Bale cover up his new hairdo - even if it's with a pair of PANTS.
The world most expensive footballer smiled with the white underwear on his head, as he took part in a charity appeal to help a schoolgirl desperately in need of a bone marrow transplant.
The 24-year-old donned the pristine boxer shorts - which hid his newly-sprouted locks - to help eight-year-old Hollie Clark.
Having been diagnosed with a rare bone marrow syndrome, brave Hollie needs regular blood transfusions until a suitable bone marrow donor can be found.
Her family began a social media craze of taking a picture with your pants on your head in a bid to find Hollie a bone marrow donor.
Real Madrid star Bale has now become the most famous face to join the search.
Other stars to take part include comedian Russell Howard, Welsh rugby captain Sam Warburton and rugby commentator Jonathan Davies.
Bale posted a picture of himself on Twitter sporting the pair of white pants on his head with the "register@anthonynolan.org" message stitched into the elasticated waist.
The Welsh striker tweeted: "Hollie is in need of a bone marrow transplant, please RT! #pantsonyourhead @HelpHollie @HolliesParents"
Hollie is in need of a bone marrow transplant, please RT! #pantsonyourhead @HelpHollie @HolliesParents pic.twitter.com/uL3AlTdemC
— Gareth Bale (@GarethBale11) June 30, 2014
However, it is not the first time Bale's headgear has made headlines in recent days.
Recent media appearances have seen the £86million forward sporting a David Beckham-style Alice band, who also grew his locks while playing in Madrid.
Yet fans don't seem so sure about Bale's new hair accessory, which he revealed in a new TV advert for BT Sport.
Comedian Hugh Laurie tweeted: "Gareth Bale: 'Football's about making the right decisions.' Said while wearing an Alice band."
Fellow Twitter user Kenny Hall added: "Gareth Bale's Alice band effort is up there with the worst hair doos [sic] I've ever seen."
Sarah Jones also wrote: "Somebody take away Gareth Bale's alice band it is very disturbing."
Somebody take away Gareth Bale's alice band it is very disturbing
However, Bale has certainly since been putting his head to good use.
Hollie's mum Laura says there has been a 2,580 per cent increase in the number of donors in the weeks since the appeal was launched last month.
She said: "The diagnosis is literally the worst thing as a parent you could be told."
The idea for the #pantsonyourhead campaign began after Hollie was in a hospital bed after receiving her first treatment, when her uncle Matthew put his underwear on his head to make her laugh.
Ms Clark added: "We are reaching out, every single person in the public can help. If they are too old to donate bone marrow they can still donate blood.
"It has been absolutely amazing. We have not got a match yet, but right from the start we said it was about finding a match and about raising awareness and we have definitely done that.
"We would love to personally thank everyone."
Hollie, from Cardiff, South Wales, was diagnosed with a rare bone marrow failure syndrome two months ago and needs a transplant.
Her family need people aged from 16 to and 30 to register with the Anthony Nolan trust.
Karen Archer, Regional Register Development Manager at Anthony Nolan, said: "The 'pants on your head selfie' idea has really taken off and is making a big difference in terms of the numbers joining the register.
"The support of sportspeople like Gareth Bale and Sam Warburton is particularly invaluable in helping us reach young men - which is really important as they are most likely to be chosen to donate but only represent 14 per cent of the register."
To support the campaign, visit www.helphollie.com , www.anthonynolan.org or www.welsh-blood.org