PICTURES: Haircut raises £1000-plus for James Support Group as Black Isle woman loses long locks for cause close to her heart
A BLACK Isle woman has raised more than £1000 to help a mental health charity by having her hair cut.
Café manager Maru Fraser is raising funds for James Support Group.
It was set up in memory of James Mullery who took his own life. The new hair style was provided by his widow Jodie Mullery. who is studying Level 3 Hairdressing at UHI.
Mrs Fraser's former long locks will also benefit a trust which makes wigs for children with cancer and alopecia.
She said she felt happy that she had done it and it was also a chance to meet up with some friends that she had not seen in a while. She said: "The cat was playing with the ponytails before Jodie cut them and that was funny. It was all very relaxed all the way through."
"We don’t know what the other person is going through so just need to be kind. And society needs to learn more about mental health. Mental health is something I never came across when growing up."
Mrs Fraser said she had shown Ms Mullery a photo of herself from many years ago when she had short hair and asked her to do something similar and whatever she felt was best for her hair.
She said: "She did an amazing job. When she finished I was very happy and surprised I liked it. I never like when I get my hair done but she is good and did a great job. I was very happy and will try and keep this style now.
"We were in her living room so we had no front mirror, so it was tricky at times as she couldn’t see what she was doing, but she managed amazingly.
"I have very thick hair so it can be a challenge. But honestly I can’t be happier with what she did. She will do amazing at any salon or if she decides to work self employed."
Mrs Fraser said that after she shared the news on Facebook she received lots of lovely messages of support and added: "I am not a fan of advertising my face on Facebook but if it is for a good cause it’s okay. And it’s nice to read the nice message to be honest."
After the article appeared in last week's edition of the North Star she received a number of anonymous donations which she said was a direct result of the publicity in the paper and on social media.
She said: "The article in the paper helped to get to people we wouldn’t have otherwise. After the article came out we jumped to over £800.
"Before the cut we had around £942 and after the haircut and post on social media, in a couple of hours we had over £1050.
"People are very generous. We had people donating Euros and dollars as everyone was sharing the post so it went far and beyond."
Mrs Fraser said they also wanted to raise awareness of the work the support group does in helping those affected by suicide. She said: "I really hope we got a message across.
"Mental health is such an important thing just now that we all need to take care of ourselves and if we can take care of our friends and family.
"We don’t know what the other person is going through so just need to be kind. And society needs to learn more about mental health. Mental health is something I never came across when growing up.
"It was something we didn’t talk about it, it just didn’t happen. But it did and it does and it will always be around so we need to teach our children so we are all open to one and another."
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• To donate visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Jodie-and-Maru
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