Boys have their heads shaved in support of Grantham cancer patient Charlie
A group of schoolboys have had their heads shaved in support of their friend Charlie Tatchell, who is fighting cancer.
The boys had their heads shaved on Saturday at Scot’s hairdressers in Westgate, Grantham, to raise money for Charlie and the Teenage Cancer Ward at Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where he is receiving treatment.
Charlie, 14, of Wyndham Close, Grantham, has just started six months of chemotherapy treatment after he was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma.
Family friend and fund-raiser Kara Harrison said of the schoolboys: “We are all extremely proud of them for what they have down for Charlie. It’s a huge gesture they have made to their friend so Charlie won’t feel too alone with his own hair loss.
“They are a great bunch of lads for all they are doing for their friend. They have worked so hard and we can’t thank them enough for the support they have shown to Charlie.”
The boys have raised over £400 so far and expect to raise more.
Five of the boys attend Priory Ruskin Academy, where Charlie is schooled, while one, Shay Parker, 13, attends Charles Read Academy, which had told him he could not attend classes if he shaved his head. He was told it was against school policy.
Shay’s mum Deborah Bass kept him away from school on Monday, but the school allowed him to return to classes on Tuesday.
Deborah said: “I think it’s wrong. Shay grew up with Charlie and has known him 10 years. He was told he would be punished and he would be put in isolation so I kept him off school.
“It’s silly really and some teachers have said to me they cannot believe it. It’s just one child in the school who is trying to help a friend with cancer.”
Sue Jones, principal of Charles Read Academy, said: “We support and value our students raising money for charity. However, we have a uniform policy that states students should not have extreme hair styles.
“We have suggested to the mother and the student that he shaves his leg hair instead and we have since had a male member of staff agree to do this and raise money for the charity.”
- Community Books, in Welby Street, has organised an event to take place today (Saturday, May 4) to raise money for Charlie and the cancer ward. There will be a 1940s-style tea bar, music and sing along, face painting, games, raffle, book fair and stalls from 2.30pm to 4.30pm in the church hall on Edinburgh Road, Grantham. There will be a Diddy Signers space theme session from 3pm to 4pm for those aged up to seven.
