Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Gran’s brave cut to boost charity
A Glenmavis grandmother raised thousands for Macmillan cancer charity by taking part in the hair- raising “brave the shave” challenge.
Moira Stewart made local news headlines when she was joined by around 100 relatives and friends to shed her distinctive red hair at a special fundraising event at the social club in her home area.
Now she has raised a “phenomenal” amount of more than £ 4000 through sponsorship and donations – and hopes that the permanent total could soar as high as £6000 once gift aid donations are taken into account.
Moira, 51, didn’t take long to mullet over before she decided to take part in the cancer charity’s head-shaving fundraiser in memory of her late mother- in- law, Hazel Stewart, who sadly died of cancer eight years ago; and in support of her older brother, William Murphy, who is currently undergoing treatment.
And it was William, 54, who was first to take up the scissors and cut off the first of his sister’s locks – with the rest then being completed by Lynn Malloy, a colleague of Moira’s at Glencryan School and who is also a hairdresser.
Moira told the Advertiser: “My brother was quite emotional, and after it was all done he presented me with a big bouquet of flowers.
“It didn’t take too long to do, and I actually quite like the new look! My daughters, Christina and Amanda, loved what I was doing and my youngest grandson, who’s two, looked a bit puzzled when he asked where all my hair had gone.”
She added: “My hair will grow back – it’s starting to already and grows quite quickly – but some people who go through cancer lose theirs through no choice of their own whatsoever.”
Determined Moira even steeled herself to still carry out her brave the shave challenge as planned despite very recent bereavement with the sad loss of her mum, Mary Murphy.
She continued: “My family encouraged me to go ahead, and I didn’t want to let people down.”
Moira’s fundraising event was shared with viewers on Facebook Live, while those in attendance at the social club paid £3 each to watch her be transformed to her new look.
Supporters also attended a karaoke and disco event, contributing to Moira’s impressive total, and the newly-shorn additional support needsl assistant added: “£4000 is a phenomenal amount; I wasn’t expecting to raise anywhere near that.
“For the past two years I’ve done the coffee morning fundraiser for Macmillan; this year I saw ‘brave the shave’ advertised and decided to go for it. Macmillan nurses give great help and support to people, and I’m grateful to all family, friends and colleagues for generosity.”