Colourful fundraising goes to Hartlepool man's head

Neil Apedaile, 49, originally from Owton Manor, is raising money for six cancer charities by getting his hair dyed different colours.

The dedicated fundraiser, who now lives at Knowle in the West Midlands, decided to take on the challenge as part of annual Knowle Cancer Week, which aims to raise cash for various cancer charities.

Neil is raising funds for Macmillan; Marie Curie; Teenage Cancer Trust; Prostate Cancer UK; Breast Cancer Now and Cancer Resarch UK.

He said: “For the last three years they have had a Knowle Cancer Week, from March 5 to 13, and I usually just sell raffle tickets, but one of my mates bet me £500 that I couldn’t grow my hair and it just went from there.

“I had it bleached blonde and then it was dyed blue, pink, yellow and green.

“My nana died in 1977 from lung cancer and she was the best woman I have met in my life, so it is in her memory.

“Some friends in Hartlepool have had prostate cancer so that is why I picked that charity for my Just Giving Page.

“I am hoping people from Hartlepool will get behind me to raise £5k.”

Neil, a groundworker for property and land management firm Umberslade, said most of his family and friends still live in Hartlepool. So far Neil has raised more than£4k and hopes his hometown will get behind him to raise even more.

His partner Jeanette West, 44, a hairdresser from Knowle, called his fundraising effort ‘crazy’.

“In March last year he stopped cutting his hair and was going to grow it for a year and then get it shaved off,” she said.
“But he thought he would get more sponsorship if he dyed it different colours first and then get it cut on March 11.

“It’s turned out absolutely brilliant. It is amazing how generous prople are.”

To donate, visit the Just Giving page on: http://bit.ly/1LWKI4Z