IT IS the one day on the Basingstoke calendar where bonkers barnets and hilarious hair dos can be seen all around the town.

The annual St Michael’s Hospice Mad Hair Day took place on Friday, 8 February with children and adults all sporting weird and wacky hair styles to help raise money for the hospice.

With schools, hairdressers and staff of the hospice all taking part, the campaign aimed to raise £8,500, something which community campaigns co-ordination at St Michael’s Hospice, Lynne Grimshaw believes they will comfortably reach.

She said: “It is always such a fun day, and everyone really seems to embrace the idea of it. We won’t know final total until the school’s come back from half-term but I am confident of smashing our target.”

From just a bit of colour in their hair, to elaborate sculptures, people’s imagination with their ideas seemed to be endless.

It is the creativity of Mad Hair Day which makes it such a significant event for the town, according to Lynne, and it is something she takes great pride in.

She added: “It is such an easy event to get involved in you can put in as little or as much effort as you want and it is all helping the hospice.

“What is great is that so many schools now expect my phone call and say they are happy to take part in the event.”

Staff at the hospice even got in on the fun this year when head of business development and marketing Chris Griffiths and the hospice’s new chef Scott Fisher Collins agreed to be waxed all in the name of charity, raising £351.

All the money raised from Mad Hair Day will go towards the money needed to keep running the service.

The facility requires around £3.9m each year to fund its work with around £700,000 funded by the health service.

To support the hospice, go to stmichaelshospice.org.uk.

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