A pharmacy worker is shaving her head in a bid to raise money for the cancer patient support service at the hospital she works in.
Sam Smith, 34 from Middlesbrough, joked about shaving her head due to the heat in the summer months. When her colleague teasingly offered her a fiver, the idea grew arms and legs. Now she is all set to go ‘full on Uncle Fester’ in two weeks’ time for charity.
Sam, a trainee pharmacy technician at the University Hospital of North Tees, decided to raise funds for the hospital’s cancer information centre as well as Macmillan Cancer Support after losing some of her colleagues to cancer.
Sam said: “Shaving my head was something in the back of my mind that I always thought I’d like to do one day. After that conversation with a colleague on a hot day, I thought about it quite hard.
“We’ve sadly lost some of our colleagues in the department to cancer over the last few years, including a friend this year. It’s had a big impact on the pharmacy team.
“Most people at some point will be or have been affected by cancer. If we can do something to help support people or make things easier even in a small way, then why not?”
Donate to Sam’s cause
To donate to Sam’s fundraiser for the cancer information centre at North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, visit her JustGiving page.
And to donate to her fundraiser for Cancer Macmillan Support, visit the Macmillan website.
Sam has already beaten her initial target of £300. She will brave the shave on Friday 25 October at the University Hospital of North Tees.
Sam continued: “I said I wouldn’t do it for less than £300. I’ve raised that just in the pharmacy department.
“Now that the day’s approaching, I’m getting nervous. I thought lighter of it and then as it’s getting closer, I’m starting to think ‘What am I doing?’
“But at the end of the day, it’s only hair, it will grow back. And if that’s something that will help people, now’s a good a time as any.”
The money raised for the hospital’s cancer information centre will be used to purchase headwear for cancer patients. The centre provides a confidential walk-in service for anyone with questions or concerns about cancer.