CARING JOHN IS A CUT ABOVE TO HELP HOSPICE
A devoted husband has had his full head of hair shaved off to support his wife through cancer treatment – and raise money for St Vincent’s Hospice.
John Storrie decided to brave the shave after his wife Christine was diagnosed with breast cancer last month.
The couple knew they wanted to give any money raised to St Vincent’s Hospice in Howwood after they cared for Christine’s dad before he sadly passed away at the end of last year.
John, who is an explorer leader with Kilbarchan Scouts, said: “Christine’s dad Joe died from cancer last year,
“He spent his last few days in the comfort and care of St Vincent’s hospice. The treatment, respect and dignity he was shown by the staff was wonderful.”
John has so far raised £2,905 for St Vincent’s after setting an initial target at £500. “I thought if I got £1,000 I’d be doing well so to have almost £3,000 is fantastic,” he said.
“I was planning on closing the fundraising after the head shave but a few folk said they didn’t know anything about it so I’ve kept it open.”
Christine, 51, is a cub leader with Kilbarchan Scouts. She was diagnosed with breast cancer last month. After talks with her consultant, her chemo has been postponed for at least a month as the risk of contracting the coronavirus was too high.
But John, 54, decided to go ahead with the headshave anyway. He joked: “Unfortunately I’d already put it out there that I’d be doing the headshave so I had to go ahead with it while she’s still got all her hair.
“I was born with a full head of hair and I’ve always been very proud of my quiff. I was in a band called Invision back in the day and I had a mullet. “It was a big deal for me!
“With everything else that’s going on just now, I just wanted to do something to support Christine and have a laugh.”
Christine and John, a prison officer in Greenock, have been married for 29 years and live with their sons, Cameron, 18 and Blair, 16, in Kilmacolm.
John broadcast the head shave live on Facebook and his youngest son took great delight in wielding the clippers.
“I’m always complaining about Blair’s hair because he’s got it shaved in so he took great delight in shaving my hair off,” said John.
“It was the only thing ng I could do to support Christine. Her glass is always half full but in quiet times I can see she’s feeling it.
“I wanted to show her this is something I was s willing to do for her, to o make a fool of myself f for a good cause which h is close to her heart.”
To donate to John’s s fundraising, go to o www. justgiving. com/ / fundraising/john-Storrie e
Short back and sides John said his son Blair was only too happy to shave his head
I wanted to show her this is something I was willing to do for her, tomaketomake a fool of myself for a good cause