The team at The Spinney Care Home managed to raise close to £2k for Great Ormond Street Hospital after waving goodbye to their locks
Five brave care home team members have said goodbye to their locks in front of residents, families and colleagues in a bid to raise £2,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, inspired by the personal experiences of colleagues whose families have received care there.
The team at The Spinney Care Home, located on Forest View in Chingford, took part in a #BraveTheShave challenge during the home’s summer party, so far raising £1,860 for Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) towards their £2,000 target.
The Spinney offers residential, specialist dementia and end of life care, with residents and team members regularly coming together to support charities.
Business manager Gina Kitchenham joined chef Luciano Rizzo, kitchen assistant Joshua Hand and senior carers Scott Jay and Awatef Eloubadi to face the clippers, while residents Ann and Gerald volunteered to help with the shaving.
Resident Ann Martin helped out with the head shave, she said: “It was very exciting to use the clippers and see their hair mount up on the floor. The five team members were very brave, and I think they all look great.”
For Gina, the fundraiser was particularly personal. Her niece Phoebe was born with a hole in her heart and has 22q syndrome, a rare genetic condition. She underwent open heart surgery as a baby and has received care and undergone numerous operations at Great Ormond Street throughout her childhood.
Phoebe turns 18 next year, and Gina wanted to mark the milestone by giving something back to the hospital that has cared for her for so many years.
Gina, whose partner was also treated at the hospital for bowel disease as a child, said: “Great Ormond Street Hospital has played an important part in caring and supporting Phoebe her entire life.
“For us, this head shave is about much more than just losing our hair, it’s about saying thank you to this amazing hospital for the incredible work they do that is life changing for so many children and their families.
“I felt excited rather than nervous about having my head shaved. Phoebe has said she is incredibly proud of me, and that she loves my new look! When I first saw myself in the mirror, I was pleasantly surprised—and several people have since told me it really suits me.”
For senior carer Awatef Eloubadi this was her second time to ‘brave the shave’ to support a good cause.
She explained: “I had the privilege of participating in this event 25 years ago, following the loss of my nephew to leukaemia when he was 13. It was then that I came to understand the profound impact of undertaking acts of kindness for a worthy cause.
“My family are extremely proud of me, and I had not anticipated the outpouring of deeply personal comments from our residents and their families, all of which has provided a source of strength, encouraging me to walk tall with my bald head!”
The charity also holds a special place in the heart of The Spinney’s home manager, Lisa Wright, whose younger brother Michael was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia when he was just 17 months old.
Lisa was eleven at the time and remembers how Michael and their mum spent two years at Great Ormond Street Hospital while her grandfather helped to look after the rest of the family.
She said: “I think it’s just marvellous that so many of our team were willing to change their appearance to raise money for the charity. It takes a lot of guts! The whole home were thrilled to get behind them and cheer them on.”
The head shave formed part of The Spinney’s summer party, with residents, relatives and team members gathering to cheer on the five volunteers and support the fundraising effort.
Elizabeth Kirby, supporter relations executive at Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to all at The Spinney Care Home for their kind support of GOSH Charity and well done for already raising an amazing amount. Great Ormond Street Hospital wouldn’t be the extraordinary place it is without the generosity of people like them!”
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