11:20am Thursday 2nd May 2013
By Michael Benke
A MUM has sacrificed her hair to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Society.
Lisa Mugridge, 42, decided to have her head shaved to raise money for the charity in memory of her father, Michael, who passed away seven years ago after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.
Despite being nervous before the challenge, Lisa said it was a worthy cause and has no regrets.
“I was a bit shaky beforehand but I’m OK now,” said Lisa, of Stratton. “I was shocked when I first saw it and I instinctively went to pick up a brush to sort my hair.
“I’ll get used to it though. It’s actually quite therapeutic to touch. That said, I’m not planning to keep this look.”
She had her head shaved at Sunrise Nursery at Kingsdown School, where her son Alfie attends.
He seemed to like his mum’s new look, simply describing her as “funny”.
Lisa set herself the target of raising £500, but had comfortably beaten that before she even had her head shaved.
“Everyone has been absolutely brilliant with giving support and money. More than £400 has been raised online alone through family and friends before today and we have raised more than £200 in cash with donations.
“Some people who I’ve never met have donated £50 individually once they heard about my head shave.
“I get quite emotional when I think how generous some people have been.”
Lisa, who works as an administrator at St James Surgery, says she was inspired to have her head shaved after seeing pop singer Jessie J get rid of all her hair for Comic Relief. She said: “I thought if she can do it there is no reason why I can’t. It was when I saw her do that I decided it was something I could do to raise money.
“My dad would have been 77 today which is why I’ve done it now. Alzheimer’s is such a horrible disease that destroys so many families. The funds that we raise can help go towards researching it.”
The act itself was carried out by Paula Mckinna, who is co-owner of Sunrise Nursery.
She said: “When I first heard about it I was a bit nervous but as it’s got closer I got more excited. Lisa was a bit worried beforehand but has been brilliant.
“I think it looks quite good and it’s all for a very good cause. I was more than happy to help.”
It is still possible to donate to Lisa’s cause by visiting www.justgiving.com/Lisa-Mugridge
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