Eastbourne funeral director’s lockdown headshave for St Wilfrid’s Hospice

Lee Howard, area development manager for Funeral Partners in Sussex, will livestream going under his fiancé’s clippers after reaching his £600 fundraising target for the Hospice, which provides support for those in the final stages of their life.

Lee, who is based at Payne and Sons Funeral Directors in Eastbourne, said: “As a funeral director, too often I’m surrounded by those facing up to cancer and the grief and loss when someone dies. Sadly, that includes a member of my own family and my best friend’s dad.

“St Wilfrid’s Hospice provides invaluable care for people in the last phase of their lives and their families, which is more important now than ever.”

Lee fundraises regularly for St Wilfrid’s Hospice, having most recently raised £570 by staying locked in Eastbourne’s Redoubt Fortress until reaching his target for the hospice’s Jail and Bail event.

Lee was scheduled to take part in the hospice’s Bubble Rush fundraiser in May, however after the event was delayed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, he decided to raise funds on his own.

Lee said: “Since the birth of my daughter, my hairline has started to thin out and recede.

“I can’t visit a barber due to social distancing, so I’m therefore ready to have it all cut off for St Wilfrid’s Hospice.”

Lee has so far raised nearly £500 through JustGiving which has already paid for a nurse in St Wilfrid’s in-patient unit for two days.

Georgia Hendry, spokesperson for the hospice, said: “St Wilfrid’s relies on the support of the community for 70 percent of the funds needed to provide specialist support to end of life patients and their loved ones.

“While we can’t run our own events, it’s brilliant to see supporters like Lee taking fundraising into their own hands and making it their own. We are immensely grateful for Lee’s continued support.”

Donations can be made to Lee’s initiative by clicking here, where he will livestream the head shave to donors upon reaching his goal.