Thank you for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page. My name is Maeve Hoey and if you know me well, you will know that my brother is my best friend. My brother has been in and out of hospital his whole life and lives with complex uncontrollable epilepsy. Any time that my family gets to spend with my brother and create memories is absolutely vital to us as we cannot predict his future. His life expectancy is short and his health can deteriorate fast.

In 2014, Magic Moments gave my family the opportunity to go to Disneyland Paris. We would not have been able to afford this ourselves and as I’m an older sibling, sometimes I’m not able to go on these trips. To say it was life changing is an understatement. Our on site hotel was provided to us at no cost, as well as disabled access to rides and many many gifts. I also got to have dinner with Mickey Mouse and meet my favourite Disney princess! Not only that, we also got to meet and have fun with lots of families like ourselves. It was comforting to know that we’re not alone. 

Here is a link to a Magic Moments video filmed on our trip - https://youtu.be/mwyXZad8U4E 

All of the staff who went on the trip with us are absolutely amazing; Jon and Charlotte were absolutely unforgettable and their compassion and empathy gave me faith in humanity. They continue to fundraise every year to make this possible for other families by jumping out of planes and torturing themselves with marathon bike rides. I wanted to give back and thank them for enabling us to make those memories five years ago. So I’m shaving my head. 

My hair is a massive part of who I am. It defines me and I’ve always been very precious about it. I grew it out when people told me they preferred it short, I dyed it pink despite my mums disapproval. I’ve always used it to be a bit rebellious and it’s my comfort blanket. But I want to do something that will not only raise some money for an amazing charity, but also something that will change me.

I’ve had a difficult few years personally and I want a fresh start, mentally and physically. If I’m going to shave off my hair symbolically, I want to raise some money doing it. Whatever you can give will be greatly received and I’ll forever be thankful. 

I’m aiming to shave my mane off in October, allowing it to grow a bit longer and giving me some time to organise an event where my friends and family can gather to shave my head for an incredible cause. 

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