A cut above

When delivery line manager Stuart Morris announced he was chopping his long locks off to raise money for charity, he was overwhelmed by the amount of support he received.

Stuart, from Grimsby Delivery Office, was very close to his late cousin, Alys, who tragically contracted breast cancer while she was pregnant.

Mummy’s Star, the only charity in the UK that supports cancer sufferers through pregnancy, offered Alys and her family vital help.

Sadly, Alys passed away last June, but Stuart was determined to raise money for the charity in her memory. He originally set a fundraising goal of £1,500, after raising a similar amount a few years ago in memory of a postman who died from pancreatic cancer.

Stuart emailed a few local managers about his plan, and they sent it out to more than 170 people. Within days he’d raised £1,800. But he didn’t stop there. After his local landlady agreed to host an event at the pub back in March, a week before lockdown rules came in, Stuart decided to auction off the first snip of his hair to the highest bidder.

Postwoman Vicky Green was there to support Stuart and witness the occasion. ‘It was a really good atmosphere with a band playing and lots of people contributing,’ she said.

Jumping in on the act, another man in the pub spontaneously announced he would also shave his head if people dug deep for contributions. Stuart raised almost £800 in one night, as well as around £350 in sponsors from colleagues.

‘In total, we raised around £3,500, more than double my original target,’ said Stuart. ‘And my 40 inches of hair went to a charity that makes wigs for cancer patients.’

After last cutting his mane 13 years ago, Stuart now sports a No 1 buzz cut and plans to keep it. ‘Colleagues think I look 10 years younger!’ he said.