<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p>The idea is to raise money for Willow Burn Hospice in Lanchester, Co.Durham which is where my Dad, Tom Maddison,&nbsp;spent his final week in September 2011. Going to Willow Burn allowed my Dad to die in a dignified and peaceful way among people he'd known through his attendance there for many years as a day patient. It also granted me and my family as much peace of mind as it's possible to have in such difficult and heart-wrenching circumstances. Because of Willow Burn I was able to be there with my Dad until he died and I was also the recipient of&nbsp;profound support from the staff there.</p> <p>Although, of course, I didn't want my Dad to die, I was relieved that he was in a place where compassion and care were in abundance.</p> <p>This attempt to raise money for Willow Burn means a lot to me and I'd like to repay some of the infinite debt to them that I feel. I will be grateful for every penny.</p> <p>To raise the money I have been growing my hair and beard since the beginning of January and will have both shaved off (hair probably not to the bone, mind) on March 30th. Hopefully, this will be done publicly and I'm trying to arrange that - although I'm not sure who I can trust to shave off my beard! I will make certain that I post pictures.</p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving &ndash; they&rsquo;ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they&rsquo;ll send your money directly to the charity and make sure Gift Aid is reclaimed on every eligible donation by a UK taxpayer. So it&rsquo;s the most efficient way to donate - I raise more, whilst saving time and cutting costs for the charity.</p> <p>So please dig deep and donate now.</p> <p>&nbsp;Iain</p>