25th of October 2021 marks one year since the passing of my hero, my dad. David Peter Walter - 'Waltz' to some.

Cancer is a bastard. There's no denying it. And with the added struggles we all have had to face during the pandemic meant his aftercare was somewhat difficult. With a variety of very complex issues which were incredibly testing to explain over the phone. The easy option for the GP was to throw pain relief at him. Daily phone queues, chasing call backs that never happened. More meds, ring back in a weeks time - that's all the GP could suggest without being able to see him face to face. To the point of being at the absolute max level of morphine you can prescribe, yet still he was in agony...

By a stroke of luck he was allocated a bed and pain management at LOROS in early September 2020. The shining beacon of hope in the darkness. He had his own room, with a view of the gardens, and (a favourite of his) a big food menu! Not only did LOROS assess and manage his pain around the clock, it felt like someone was finally listening. He only spent a couple of weeks with LOROS before returning home to spend his final days with us, but without their service we wouldn't have managed. I can't thank them enough.

Which brings this round to what I'm doing. For the past 15 years I've had long hair. I always wanted long hair like dad had back in his biker days. It's been part of my identity longer than it hasn't, so to thank LOROS I will be shaving my head for charity and donating all the proceeds to them. But before the shave, I wanted to have a little fun with an unconventional hairstyle chosen by those who are kind enough to donate.
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This is where I need your help. Vote for a hairstyle in the donation comments, it can be anything from a mullet, to a mohawk, a bowl cut to a rat tail. The choice is yours. The hairstyle with the most votes is what I'll keep and proudly display in public for 1 week and an extra week for every £1000 raised after that, before completely shaving it off. (It was on its way out anyway!)

I will keep you all updated with photos of the chosen hairstyle for those unfortunate enough to not see it in person at a later date. I’m sure you all would have some great (or awful) hairstyle ideas!

The hair will be kept aside and donated once cut. 

Thank you, 

Joe 

About LOROS:
LOROS is a charity whose aim is to enhance the quality of life of adult patients with cancer, progressive neurological conditions and end-stage organ failure for whom curative treatment is no longer possible. Patients are treated at the Hospice and in the community based upon clinical need, regardless of background and the ability to pay.