Martin loses epic beard in fundraising effort for transplant team
A man from Wednesbury has just had an epic shave in order to raise money for the Heart and Lung Transplant Department at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Martin Howard, whose dad Mick had a heart and lung transplant 11 years ago at the hospital, went along to Peaky Barbers in Friar Park for a rather radical haircut.
Watch the moment that Martin had his head and beard shaved!
“I’d been growing out my hair for a few months, and I’ve grown out the goatee part of my beard for some years now. I thought it would be great to celebrate the 11th anniversary of dad’s transplant by raising money for the team that saved his life.”
11 years to the day since Mick received his life saving transplant, Martin had his beard and hair shaved at Peaky Barbers, and has so far raised over £500 thanks to the generosity of his family and friends.
He said: “I’m so pleased to have been able to raise so much money to support the transplant team at the hospital. They’ve given dad years of life that we didn’t think he would have, and for that we’re incredibly grateful.”
Mick said: “I was on holiday when I started to feel unwell. This was all the way back in 1995, and my heart slowly failed over the next 13 years. In 2008 I had my transplant, and since then I’ve felt so much healthier.
“Sadly, I had to give up my job as a tool maker when my health deteriorated, but since my operation I’ve been able to do the things that I missed, and I love spending time with my children and grandchildren.
“Before my transplant I was told that I had about a year to live unless I had a transplant. Thanks to the amazing skill of the transplant team, and the generosity of my donor’s family, I’ve had ten years of life that I didn’t think I would have.”
Martin is pleased with his new look, and wanted to thank all those who had helped his cause, saying: “Thanks so much to everyone who has donated and has helped to make a difference. Thanks go to Dale and the team at Peaky Barbers for doing such a great job and being so supportive of my cause.”
Sophie Carroll, Senior Fundraiser at QEHB Charity, said: “Huge thanks go to Martin for raising so much money through his head and beard shave! What a great way to celebrate the 11th anniversary of Mick’s transplant, the money they’ve raised will make a difference to transplant patients just like Mick.
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we were recently able to fund Heart in a Box, a revolutionary machine which is now saving lives at the hospital and which could increase the number of heart transplants that we’re able to carry out at the hospital by up to 50%.” Read more about Heart in a Box here.