IT IS the one day of the year where wacky hair styles are the norm across Basingstoke and Deane.

And once again the annual St Michael’s Hospice Mad Hair Day will see the whole borough sporting outrageous hair dos.

This year the event will be held on Friday, 9 February, with people of all ages being encouraged to wear crazy wigs and style their hair in weird and wacky ways all in the name of generating vital money for the North Hampshire’s only adult hospice.

Last year the event managed to raise more than £6,000 for the hospice in Aldermaston Road, with schools, hairdressers and residents all getting involved.

Lynne Grimshaw, community campaigns co-ordinator at the hospice, said: “‘Mad Hair Day’ is the perfect excuse to go wild and have fun with your hair.

“Maybe you have always wondered what your hair would look like pink, permed or in a beehive, or perhaps ladies, you have always wanted to be brave enough to have your head shaved, or gentlemen your legs or chest waxed.

“Well Friday, 9 February is the day to give it a try. You can have great fun and really help your local hospice at the same time by getting sponsored too.

"In the past, the hospice has had wonderful support from schools and hairdressers, but individuals and businesses are always welcome to join in too.”

All the money raised from Mad Hair Day goes towards providing care and support through the hospice’s in-patient unit, day service and hospice at home services.

All services are completely free of charge to people with life-limiting illnesses. The running costs of the Hospice last year were £3.7 million of which only around 20 per cent is funded by the North Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group with the remainder coming from other sources such as fundraising events like Mad Hair Day.

For more information on how to get involved in Mad Hair Day call 01256 848845 or email lynne.grimshaw@stmichaelshospice.org.uk