Joan’s hair-raising idea to support hospice she is ‘so proud of’

A selfless grandma has visited the hair salon at St Catherine’s Hospice for a chop she’ll never forget!

Joan Murphy, 75, from Leyland, has volunteered at Day Therapy at the Lostock Hall hospice, and wanted to do more to show her support and raise awareness of the cause.

She asked the charity’s hairdresser Lesley King – who works with patients in the inpatient unit and day therapy – to shave her head so she could collect sponsorship money from family and friends.

“I can’t do things like cycle to raise money anymore, but I can have my hair cut,” Joan said. “I’m so proud of St Catherine’s – it belongs to the local community – and it’s really important that we do what we can to support it.”

Joan’s husband Eric was cared for by the charity around 24 years ago before he died, and Joan, a mum-of-six and grandma-of-ten, has supported St Catherine’s ever since.

A retired nurse, she also remembers visiting the hospice for a tour when it first opened in 1985.

“I have really enjoyed volunteering over the years – Day Therapy was lovely and I met some real characters,” she said. “It really opens your eyes, and I just enjoyed helping out and spending time talking with patients.

“It’s a two-way thing really because it has given me a lot of satisfaction too.”

Joan, who wore her butterfly earrings to resemble the hospice’s logo especially for the occasion, added: “St Catherine’s will always have a special place in my heart. I’m a ‘do-er’ and I just want to do whatever I can to help.”

The charity’s chief executive, Stephen Greenhalgh, said: “Joan has done this from the heart and I’m always very humbled when people go the extra mile and do something special like this to show their support for their local charity.

“She’s very courageous and generous, and I’d like to personally thank her for bravely going through with this! Joan really does epitomise the spirit of St Catherine’s.”

To donate and show your support for Joan’s effort, click here to make an online donation today.

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