Street Heat leader to lose locks for charity

Young samba band leader Lucy Woolcock is making a double donation to charity on Saturday (22 October), with her hair raising funds for a good cause.

Lucy’s treasured tresses are to be lopped off to raise funds for Meningitis Now – and her lovely lost locks will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for child cancer sufferers.

Lucy, aged 26, has been a member of Exeter-based community samba band Street Heat for five years. The band has over 50 members of all ages and Lucy and was recently voted its joint music co-ordinator.

Her waist-length hair will be cut short down to a shoulder-length bob – all in aid of raising a few bob for charity.

She said: “It’s been quite a year for me. I got a promotion at work and I’m one of two people who have recently taken over the task of guiding the musical direction of the South West’s favourite samba band – Street Heat.

“Meningitis Now is a charity close to my family’s heart, so I wanted to do something to raise funds for them. So far I’ve had pledges of £353, but I’m still hoping for a higher final total. The band has also pledged to donate five per cent of its 2016 profit to Meningitis Now.

“I’m having 14 inches lopped off my waist-length hair, which has not been shortened for six years. Once my hair and I have parted company, the off-cuts will be sent to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

“I love being part of Street Heat, which entertains audiences all over the South West and further afield. Several of our performances each year are in support of charity events and we also have our own band charity – the Francisco Rojas School in Peru. So what I am doing is part of a long tradition of charitable work associated with the band”.

Anyone who wants to support Lucy’s lock-losing charity effort can go to her page on JustGiving.com at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Lucy-Woolcock