Bethan Willoughby, a stylist at De Lacy Spa in Beverley has raised over £1,500 for the charity Hull & East Yorkshire Mind by having her head shaved.
Her fund raising efforts were beamed live through the social media platform Facebook with thousands of viewers tuning in to watch as she had her hair shaved off.
Benthan says she chose the charity, Hull & East Yorkshire Mind as she has family and friends that have in the past made use of services due to mental health issues.
Setting herself a target of £600, Benthan made a pledge saying that if she reached the amount she would go through with the unthinkable, sacrificing her shoulder length hair.
Speaking to HU17.net about her efforts Bethan said;
“I am a stylist my hair is my pride and joy, everyone was saying to me ‘you’re mad.”
“On the Saturday night when I was out loads of people were asking why my hair was still on. They were asking why I had not shaved it off and how they we are going to wait till it was done it before they donated.”
“Two days before I was so ready. I knew I had smashed my original target and I just wanted to shave it off to prove to everyone I was going to do it. I don’t do anything by halves, so I died my hair blue too.”
“When it happened I was so nervous as I was doing a live Facebook feed.”
“My hands were shaking, I could barely speak, but people have who I have seen since said I did well.”
With her hair gone Benthan says she is adapting to life without it and has not ruled out more fund raising efforts, she said;
“My first morning I woke up without any hair I thought, what do I do with myself. Nothing to curl, nothing to straighten, nothing to style, but I am totally up for doing more fundraising.”
“I would like to thank everyone that has donated. People have donated from 50p to £100, but every single donation meant as much to me.”
Her efforts were acknowledged by the charity with Jack Moore, Marketing Officer at Hull and East Yorkshire Mind saying;
“It’s amazing to have the support from Bethan, her fundraising means we can continue to help more and more people living in the local area with their mental health”
To make a donation visit –
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bethan-willoughby
