Castlewellan Man Braves The Shave For Macmillan Cancer

David Boden raises funds for Macmillan Cancer in a head shave in Castlewellan.

David Boden is on target for raising funds for health charity Macmillan Cancer. Speaking to Down News he said: “It was a close shave but I’ve reached my target of £500 and the money is still coming in writes Jim Masson.

“I decided to do the head shave at Castle Barbers in Castlewellan because cancer is something that touches so many of us directly or indirectly. Macmillan Cancer has carried on their services through the pandemic and they need all the help we can give them. They are a great charity and provide vital assistance to people who have cancer and to their families. Cancer affects one in three of us. It’s never far away.”

David, who was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome when he was a teenager, plays the drums and guitar and looked every part of a hard core rocker with shoulder length hair.

“I would like to thank all my friends and family including Jim at Down News for their support in this effort to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer. I still have a bucket of change to count out… there could be well over a hundred pounds there yet.

“This week I will take the money into Pop Up Arts at Life Change Changes Lives in Downpatrick and get my colleagues there to help me count it. It would take me forever! They helped collect funds for me and are a great bunch of people.

“I decided to do the Brave the Shave before the winter came in for obvious reasons. It’s amazing how much a mop of hair keeps your head warm. You never realise it until you lose it. I think too when cancer patients lose their hair through chemotherapy and other treatments that it is a good gesture to show that we are with them on their journey with cancer,” said David.

“In fact it feels refreshing and pleasant. Certainly different. I’m glad I don’t have to wear a woolly hat though. One good thing about having my head shaved too is that when I get up in the morning I don’t have the rigmaroll of brushing it.

“But every cloud has a silver lining. My hair was gathered up and bagged and is to be sent to the Little Princesses Trust which collects hair for little girls who lose their hair when they are going through cancer treatment.”

You can read more about the Little Princesses Trust at:

https://www.littleprincesses.org.uk/donate-hair

David added: “This was my first head shave. It went extra well and I might do it again, but it will take some time for my hair to grow again.”