Nathan and Liam have a close shave to raise money for Anthony Nolan Trust

Liam Gillooly, Bart (barber) and Nathan Hurst

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Junior players from Maidenhead Hockey Club helped raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust this week by having a sponsored head shave in support of one of their teammates.

Earlier this year, the club launched a campaign encouraging more young people to sign up to the bone marrow register after a club member was diagnosed with a rare form of blood cancer.

Nathan Hurst and Liam Gillooly, two young players from the club, were keen to show their support, however, as both are still under 16, they’re unable to sign up to the register.

Instead, the pair decided to create their own fundraiser for the charity and pledged to shave their heads to raise money.

Having set up a JustGiving page and raised thousands of pounds through donations from family, friends and the community, the ‘head shave’ took place at Maidenhead and Bray Sports Club on Sunday (May 14). Local barber Bart Barbers (@bartdbarber) gave up his time to shave both boys’ heads free of charge.

So far, the pair have raised £4,000 for the Anthony Nolan Trust and raised important awareness about blood cancer and the bone marrow register.

If you'd like to donate visit their Just Giving page at justgiving.com/page/Nathan-Liam

To sign up to the bone marrow register visit: www.anthonynolan.org

Alice Hirst, senior community recruitment manager at Anthony Nolan, said: “We are so grateful to Nathan and Liam for raising vital funds and awareness for Anthony Nolan. Any money they raise will help Anthony Nolan continue to register new potential stem cell donors, offering people with life-threatening blood cancers and disorders a second chance of life. Adding a new potential donor to the stem cell register costs the charity £40, so any donations are crucial to our life-saving work.”

Helen Todd of Maidenhead Hockey Club added: “It was the perfect setting on Sunday morning, with the sun shining as we gathered to witness Nathan and Liam have their heads shaved to raise funds for the Anthony Nolan Trust. We are so proud of both boys – what a fantastic thing to do to support a fellow player at the Club. A huge thank you goes to Bart, who gave up his time and performed the head shave perfectly for the guys, as well as Ellie and the team at Maidenhead and Bray Sports Club, for opening for us.”

Anthony Nolan is the charity that makes lifesaving connections between patients in need and incredible strangers ready to donate their stem cells. Ever since Shirley Nolan founded the charity in 1974, her son Anthony’s legacy has given hope and a second chance of life to thousands of blood cancer and blood disorder patients.

Founded in 1904, Maidenhead Hockey Club has over 450 adult and junior members. The club welcomes new members of all ages and abilities.

For more information visit: www.maidenheadhc.org.uk or email: academy@maidenheadhc.org.uk