An Epple Bay youngster will raise money for The MS (Multiple Sclerosis) Trust by going completely bald in May.
Eight-year-old Cooper Blackman raised £500 last year by taking part in the ‘Run With Mum’ challenge with his mum Donna, raising the funds for the Kent MS Therapy Centre in Canterbury. This year, he hopes to beat that by having all his hair shaved off on May 20.
The year 3 pupil at St Nicholas-at-Wade Primary School has already smashed his original target of £100 and has so far received donations of more than £1,100.
Cooper was inspired to raise money for the charity because Donna was diagnosed with MS in 2010.
Donna said: “It is completely his own idea. I’m really nervous about it but Cooper isn’t, which says a lot about his character.”
Cooper said: “I want to shave my head, because I want to raise money for people that have MS and to help people like my mum get some treatment. I think my friends might think being bald will look a bit weird, but I’m not worried about that and just wants Mum to get treatment for her wobbly legs.”
Donna and Cooper’s dad Paul will be on shaving duties on the day and the deed will be live-streamed on Facebook so friends and family can watch.
The event will take place at Birchington Barbers, 90 Station Road, Birchington at 12.30pm on Saturday May 20.
Find Cooper’s fundraising page by clicking here
About MS
Multiple sclerosis is a condition that affects the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. 130 people are diagnosed with multiple sclerosis every week in the UK. That’s one person every two hours.
It is a lifelong condition, usually diagnosed in people in their 20s and 30s, and can cause a wide variety of symptoms, including eyesight problems, fatigue, balance problems, altered sensations and cognitive issues.
Public Health England estimate that over 130,000 people in the UK live with MS and it affects around three times as many women as men. There is a wide range of disease modifying therapies available, but there is currently no cure.
The MS Trust
The Trust supports and trains MS health professionals and funds MS specialist nurses and Advanced MS Champions across the UK.
For information on living and working with MS visit www.mstrust.org.uk, call the MS Trust Helpline on 0800 032 38 39 or email [email protected]