Bourne mum who runs salon in Peterborough appears on ITV 1 show with Katie Piper and the Reverend Richard Coles
A busy salon owner and mum was given a starring role on a TV show to recognise her years of tireless fundraising.
Liza Raby, who opened LH Hair Design in Bourne seven years ago, featured on Katie Piper’s Weekend Escapes programme on ITV.
Her niece Megan and business partner Hannah Lowndes also went along to give their thoughts about Liza.
Friends gathered at Liza’s Bourne home to watch the show together when it aired on Sunday morning.
“The producer said they were looking for people that had been doing inspirational things and they approached me to be guest of honour,” said Liza.
“I was going to get my hair and make-up done and be pampered, so I was definitely up for that!”
She has spent much of the last two decades fundraising after her son Spencer was born with a rare genetic condition which left him needing complex care.
The overall tally has just smashed through the £200,000 mark, thanks to a £15,000 individual donation - three years ahead of a 20-year target.
As recognition for her work, Liza, who also runs Spencer’s Salon in Peterborough, was whisked down to Berkshire and treated to a makeover.
She had her hair done by celebrity stylist Michael Douglas and make-up by Genevieve Thurley. It was a rare chance for her to be on the receiving end of a pampering.
“My mum and her sister were hairdressers, so I've never really had a salon experience as a client in my life - it was great,” she said.
“People think you've got a hair salon and you get everything done for you, but we are always last on the list.”
Liza met broadcaster The Reverend Richard Coles on the set, creating an unintentionally memorable moment for Liza.
“He asked how it went and I said ‘I feel great, I really enjoyed my pampover’. I meant to say pamper or makeover and got them mixed up,” she recalled.
“I use that in the salon now - I've got to try and get that word in the dictionary.”
Liza is no stranger to the media spotlight, having appeared on BBC One’s evening flagship programme The One Show in 2023.
There have also been several radio interviews, all of which have for her fundraising - dedicated to Spencer and parents of children with severe learning difficulties.
“Nothing really prepares you for what life will be like,” she said.
“If you look back and think about all that Spencer has been through, it's been very traumatic. I really I don't even know how we've got through the years.
“I used to work six days a week when he was at home. He'd be up all night and we wouldn't get much sleep, and I was trying to get support at home for him while I worked.”
Spencer is now 26 and lives in residential care, run by Lincolnshire-based Home From Home Care which has links to the Say Hello charity which Liza supports.
She is also raising money for the Peterborough branch of the Circles Network which aims to build inclusive communities.
“It was originally my friend’s charity because her son was supported by Circles, but she died suddenly last year, so I'm continuing to fundraise for them in her memory.”
Liza also cuts the hair of many adults with additional needs and disabilities, and travels to the homes of those who struggle with salons and her businesses are up for a string of awards.
And she has taken the fundraising up a notch this year with Challenge 12 - a fundraiser every month throughout 2025.
Those completed so far include a sponsored 12-hour silence for staff at her salon while it was closed for the day.
“We related that to Spencer and going into his world because he's non-verbal,” Liza explained.
“It got me thinking about how he gets through his day without any words, so it was quite emotional.”
Liza and colleagues have also done a 26-mile bike ride around Rutland Water and tackled a daunting obstacle course at Forest Facility Adventure Centre, in Stamford.
Next up is a kayak and paddleboard challenge in July, followed by a 24-mile relay swim, boot camp session, parachute jump, Bounce/Zumba-thon, and finally a 12-hour Singathon in December.
“To do 12 in a year is quite a lot and we have activities alongside them as well like bingo nights, psychic events, and party nights,” she said.
“So there's a lot of exciting things and we're getting seen and we're getting heard.”
For more details on Challenge 12, visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/liza-raby-1
Alternatively call Spencer's Hair Salon on 01733 324568.
