SOUTH SOMERSET NEWS: Cut above the rest for Alopecia UK

AN AMAZING afternoon of head shaving, body waxing and beard trimming has resulted in a whopping £5,000 being raised for charity.

An army of volunteers gathered this afternoon (Sunday, September 4, 2016) at the Phoenix Hotel in Chard to lose their hair – from all parts of the body.

It was to help raise money for Alopecia UK and improve awareness of the condition which sees people, of all ages, lose their hair for no apparent reason.

The idea came about from the Phoenix Hotel’s licensees Steve and Sarah Jones as their son Lucas, who will be seven on September 9, 2016, has been living with alopecia since the age of three.

PHOTO - TOP: Darren Druce underwent a full body wax.

PHOTO - RIGHT: The Mayor of Chard, Cllr Dave Bulmer, has his head shaved by Michelle Young, of Razooks.

And they have been amazed at the success of the fundraising which saw a crowd of people come forward to have their heads shaved, while others had their beards shaved off and more daring volunteers went for some wax treatment.

Mark Grinter raised a fantastic £905 for his head shave and that figure reached more than £1,000 when there was a collection for him to undergo the wax pain.

Craig Quinn saw his much-cherished beard removed to help raise money for the cause, while Darren Druce had an all-over wax treatment.

Others to take part included the Mayor of Chard, Cllr Dave Bulmer, who had his head shaved, as did Yeovil Press’ very own reporter Steve Sowden.

Jill White, who is well-known in the Chard area for her work raising money for cancer charities, had the Batman logo cut into the back of her hair as her young grandson calls her “Batnan.”

Sarah and Steve Jones have been overwhelmed by the success of the fundraising and would like to thank everyone who supported the event – especially those who raised the money and all those who came in to carry out the shaving, trimming and waxing.

PHOTO - RIGHT: Jill White, of Tatworth, had the Batman logo cut into her hair as her grandson calls her "Batnan."

Sarah, speaking on Facebook, said: “I am truly overwhelmed by everyone that has helped today.

“At present we are just short of £5,000 with lots more still to be handed in. A big thank you to everyone involved – I just do not know what to say.”

There were other fundraising events going on at the Phoenix Hotel to help boost the amount of money raised.

More photos taken by Chard Press' Christine Jones can be found on this link: http://www.chardpress.co.uk/blog/2016/09/04/alopecia-uk-fundraiser-sept-4-2016/ .

PHOTO - ABOVE: Young Lucas Jones, who will be seven later this month, with some of those who came out to support the fundraising at the Phoenix Hotel.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Craig Quinn (right) had his beard shaved off for charity.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Bald and proud! Mark Pearce, left, and Yeovil Press' Steve Sowden.

PHOTO - ABOVE: Mayor of Chard, Cllr Dave Bulmer, with Mark Grinter who raised around £1,000 for the cause by having his head shaved and then undergoing some body waxing.

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