My knee length dreadlocks will be shaved off.

Why would I do such a thing you ask? I want to raise money for Martin House Children’s Hospice. In spring of 2020, I was pregnant and had my 12 week scan. The scan identified concerns with the baby and it was soon confirmed he had a chromosome problem – Edwards Syndrome also known as Trisomy 18. This meant that our baby was likely to be miscarried and, if he did make it to birth, he would not live long – maybe a year if we were really lucky.

Martin House provided support to us right from the start. They helped us write a care plan which ensured our objectives were articulated to the various medics involved. We desperately wanted to meet our baby, whom we named Oaken, and wanted to make sure that he did not suffer in any way.

Oaken was born by emergency C-section on 27^th August 2020. It was clear from the start that we would have very little time with him. He was a brave little man who had character but, his medical difficulties were too severe and there was little the wonderful medical teams involved could do to help him so, we went to Martin House. Whilst there, we were given every support to enjoy our time with Oaken and make as many memories as we could. He was never in any distress and responded positively to our love.  Oaken lived for 2 very precious days which he spent with us as a family at Martin House, where he died peacefully.

After Oaken died, Martin House continued to support us. They looked after us for a week whilst we stayed with Oaken and tried to process what had happened. They allowed friends and family members to visit us and Oaken and helped us start to make the necessary funeral and other arrangements.

The funeral would always have been distressing but, in Covid times, it was especially so. Can you imagine going to your baby’s funeral and being told that you can’t sit next to your husband and that your 5 year old daughter has to decide which parent she will sit with? That is what happened to us, it was horrific and totally unexpected.

The support we have received from Martin House has been truly outstanding and has made such a positive difference to us. They continue to support us now with counselling and other support and we are so very grateful to them for this. So, I wanted to do something for them as I know they work tirelessly to raise funds to enable them to provide this amazing support to families like ours. But what could I do? I could maybe run a marathon, or do the 3 Peaks Challenge or jump out of a plane… but no, those things weren’t for me.

Those that know me, know I have crazy long dreadlocks. They are 1.30 metres (4 foot 2) long and weigh a ton (or at least it feels like it!). I’ve had my locks for 10-11 years but my hair was waist length when I had it dreaded. I thought, who wouldn’t want to see them on the floor and be willing to sponsor me to do it so…

I will be publicly shaving my head at the Deer Shed Base Camp Plus event, where my husband and I run a tree climbing event, on Saturday the 31^st July at 12.45. I cannot deny that I’m absolutely terrified but also a bit excited at the prospect of no longer stepping on my hair, shutting it in doors and sweeping the floor of public loos whilst helping my daughter! I hope you can support me by sponsoring whatever you can afford so that Martin House can continue to support families with children who have life limiting conditions.

I plan to video the head shave so will be able to share it once the deed is done!