6th Form student Jake Anderton decided that his long hair had to go in order to raise funds and awareness for PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide. The Year 13 Fulston Manor School student is good friends with Nathan Wheeler, also Year 13, whose brother Alex sadly took his own life towards the end of last year. Nathan’s family have been campaigning to raise awareness of mental health and methods of preventing young suicide ever since and Jake decided he could do this to help. Jake said “It just seemed a good idea at the time but I’m more nervous about what the Year 7s will think!” Katherine Noble from Blow Hairdressing in Sittingbourne, undertook the task of chopping off Jake’s hair in a way that ensured he could donate the lost locks to The Little Princess Trust, a charity which gives away free real hair wigs to both boys and girls that have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other illnesses.

 

Suicide is the leading cause of death among young people aged 20-34 years in the UK. If you would like to donate to Jake’s cause please follow the link: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising At the time of going to press Jake had raised £275.