A WOMAN with a “passion for birds” is shaving off her hip-length hair to raise money for a wildlife sanctuary that faces closure.
Holly Pacey, 30, from Littlehampton, decided to have her head shaved this Sunday to raise money for Bird Aid in Hailsham.
Bird Aid still faces closure after one of its former trustees decided they wanted their money returned after initially being willing to contribute funds.
The sanctuary has currently raised £120,000 and needs to raise another £50,000 to meet its target of £170,000, which will allow the bird rescue centre to stay open.
Julia Gould, founder of Bird Aid, did say they could try and get a loan for the rest of the money to “buy a bit of time”. The sanctuary has until November 27 to raise the funds needed to survive.
But Holly is hoping the £800 she has raised can help, along with the 2,720 other people who have donated to the sanctuary.
She said: “I am passionate about birds, especially birds that not everyone cares for like pigeons and seagulls. So I just wanted to do something big to show to my friends and family how much this meant to me and raise money for Bird Aid.”
Holly discovered Bird Aid after reading a news article in October on their struggle.
She said: “I read this article and I thought ‘what can I do to help?’. I’m not a sporty person so anything like a marathon is out the question. I have long hair that everyone comments on so I think that’s the best thing.
“I haven’t organised to donate the hair yet but I am planning to donate it to a children’s cancer charity.
“I’m going to keep it open until the date, so if people want to donate after, that’s fine.”
She said her family have jokingly asked her not to cut have her head shaved, but have donated towards her cause.
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She said: “My family are supportive obviously, but all my friends and family have joked they would pay me not to cut my hair. People are not looking forward to bald Holly!"
Holly is getting her haircut by Scoundrels Barbers in Portland Road, Hove, on Sunday.
For more information on Holly’s fundraiser, visit her JustGiving page.
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