‘Barberthon’ challenge is cut above
Staff at a town centre barber’s have pledged to remain open for 32 consecutive hours to provide festive haircuts to emergency services workers. AIMI REDFERN reports
ABARBERSHOP will open for 32 hours straight – to allow emergency services staff to fit in a Christmas haircut. Absolute Barbers, in Newcastle, will be laying on mince pies and hot chocolate for workers who are normally too busy to take time out for themselves.
A quarter of the proceeds taken during the ‘barberthon’ will be donated to the Midlands Air Ambulance charity.
Kieron Bassan, who runs the London Road shop with KD Aby, said: “I have quite a few clients in the emergency services and they just don’t get time to have a haircut during the Christmas period.
“They do such a good job – they have to work shifts and often don’t get to spend Christmas with their families. We wanted to show how much they are appreciated.
“We will be open to the general public too, so any shift workers can take advantage of it.”
The pair are going to split some of the 32-hour period between them, and work other parts together.
Kieron, aged 30, of Chesterton, said: “We have had a couple of barbers from other shops say they will come in and help out on the night if we need them. Customers have said they will come along and support us, and bring us food.
“We are in the heart of the community here and we want to bring people together.”
KD, aged 55, of Longton, said: “It’s important for us to recognise the hard work that the emergency services do. With the run-up to the festive season they will be working their socks off.
“I think because we are doing it for the community, the tiredness will go out of the window. We are really excited about doing it.”
Absolute Barbers is also offering customers a festive treat this week, until midday on Friday, in The Sentinel’s Shop Local scheme.
Clients can get a free surprise treatment – which could be a head massage, face mask or a shave – with every haircut on production of the voucher above.
The barberthon takes place from 10am on December 19, until 6pm on December 20.