Fundraisers' total is a real cut above the rest

The formally hairy bunch – Christina Perkins, 25, Dave Stewart, 65, Chris Alderslade, 21, Richard Alderslade, 19, Dan Cobden and 47-year-old Gary Brien – shed their tresses in aid of Headway in West Sussex and Lifeblood.

Event organiser Christina said: “I am really pleased with how the whole event went. It really couldn’t have gone any better. The pub was packed and we had so much support, it was fantastic.

“I was really surprised by how long it took for the head shaving to take place, I was about three hours in total for everyone.

“I decided to go last, I thought seeing everyone else having it done would make me more nervous, but actually it helped calm me down.

“I was really nervous but my best friend was the one doing the shaving and she kept whispering things in my ear which really helped.

“All I could feel was the vibrating of the razor which was a very strange feeling.”

The grand total raised by the dramatic haircut held at The Elmer is still been added up, but Christina thinks they have reached the £1,000 mark.

“I think we have definitely reached £1,000, which will be £500 to each of the charities which will make a massive difference.

“I would like to say we have managed to raise £1,500 so fingers crossed we have,” she said.

Christina hopes the group’s efforts will help raise awareness for the charities, both of which have a personal importance to her.

She said: “Both of the charities deserve all the support and awareness we can give them.

“Brain injuries and blood clots are both silent killers, so for me it was as much about raising awareness as it was collecting sponsorship.

“I was very lucky, my blood clots were spotted and treated.

“I wanted to do this for all the people who couldn’t, all the people who were not as lucky as me.

“It was a very positive experience and the support from family, friends, and the pub was overwhelming.”

Headway in West Sussex was set up in 1998 and is part of a national charity which supports people with an acquired brain injury, their families and carers.

Email [email protected], see www.headway-in-west-sussex.org.uk or call 01903 693471 for more details about the charity.

Lifeblood is a thrombosis charity established by a group of people who recognise the need to promote awareness about thrombosis, its causes, effects, and the treatment.

See www.thrombosis-charity.org.uk or call 01558 650222 for more information and details on how to support the charity.