Alexey Makarov, volunteer fundraiser for Michael Sobell Hospice at Mount Vernon Hospital:

The tradition of betting my hair goes back to my childhood. Before I could be registered for my first year of school, they told us in no uncertain terms, “The boy needs a haircut”. And this golden-locked little Alexey refused point-blank to lose his hair. That's when my granddad, owner of the most luxurious grey mane, made it a challenge: whichever one of us had their team lose in the European Cup would shave it all off. I bet my locks on the England team versus Italy. The Italians won. And that was my first haircut.

Ever since then, I've been a hardcore fan of the England team, and I get a haircut exactly once every two years, when the English get knocked out of the battle for the European or World Cup. 

Four years ago, when the English took yet another shameful beating
at the World Cup, I got my first haircut for charity. The idea came from my fellow pubgoer Chris, who was then wrestling with the final stages
of cancer (he died half a year later). On that occasion, I managed to gather around £600 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Two years later, the English lost again, I went bald again, and this time I gathered over £1,000 for the kids in Gift of Life’s care. I’m really happy that together with Gift of Life we were able to help sick children.

This year the Cup is in Russia! And I’m going to shave it all off again, since despite all my hopes, the English haven’t got a prayer.

This time I do it to thank Michael Sobell Hospice at Mount Vernon Hospital for all they do and for all they did to my close friend who peacefully passed away
there recently.

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