After years of long hair, I am going for the chop on 19th July 2019, all in aid of Tor Support Services (TSS) . TSS is a charity that offers support and counselling to children and young people aged 5-25years from Okehampton and the surrounding parishes. They help with problems such as depression, anxiety, bereavement and self-harm.

Students are able to see counsellors during college hours and after school, getting essential support when they need it. They do some wonderful work, but like all mental health providers, have a long waiting list and can struggle to meet demand.

Working in a school, I see first hand the impact of the lack of funding for mental health, and access to support, is having on our young people.

I am therefore hoping to raise enough money to fund more counsellors to enable them to support more young people than they already do.

My hair is a massive part of my identity, and cutting it all off is a big deal for me and my own mental health, but worth it for the cause. I would really love to meet the enormous target I have set, but at the same time I’m terrified and know that this is a big ask. If I reach the hair-raising £50,000 I will go the whole hog and get a grade 4 all over.

Just for added fun and fundraising, I am going to raffle off the 'honour' of cutting my hair to the staff and student body in the final week of term. My hair will then be chopped during the end of term assembly.

I will get one inch cut for every £100 I raise for the first 14 inches (enough to donate for wigs), after that I'm upping the stakes:

If I reach:

£5,000 I'm getting a Mrs Hachipuka

£10,000 for a Mr Brett

£50,000 would be a Mr Bailey (grade 4 all over).

The haircut will be kindly supervised by the wonderful ladies of Quinns Hairdressing , based in Okehampton."

All funds raised will be given directly to TSS, with added GiftAid.