Sandwell hospital volunteer Kay having big hair cut for NHS charity
A Black Country hospital trust volunteer will chop off 24 inches of her hair to raise money for an NHS charity.
Kamal Deep, who volunteers at the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, will cut her locks to raise funds for the organisation's Your Trust Charity.
It will be the first time the 39-year-old, from Wednesbury, has had short hair since she was three years old - and she has already raised more than £900, having set a target of £500.
Karmal, who is known as Kay Bali to her friends and family, has been volunteering at Sandwell Hospital for more than a year.
She said: "I have seen how tirelessly the staff at the trust, from frontline healthcare workers, to domestics have been working.
"I have had long hair all my life and I always knew that one day I wanted to cut it off for a good cause.
“This is the perfect time especially whilst the NHS is really under pressure, trying to deliver the best care possible during this awful outbreak.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, Kay, who works as a part-time security officer when she's not volunteering, has been devoting her time to helping out at Sandwell Hospital – from putting up posters, to delivering food donations from local businesses. She also helps out at the League of Friends shop situated at the hospital.
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Kay said: "I feel that by being a volunteer I am doing something really worthwhile. I believe that by devoting some of my time to the NHS I am giving something back to my community.
"But I also feel very privileged to be able to volunteer for the healthcare service.
“I started volunteering at Sandwell Hospital after my mum was treated there. I noticed that a lot of the other patients didn’t really have visitors.
"I found out there was specifically a role where the volunteer could spend time with a patient, so I joined the service.”
Kay is planning to have her hair cut on International Day of the Nurse and Midwife, which falls on May 12. Volunteer service manager Liza Gill will carry out the task wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).
Amanda Winwood, fundraising manager for Your Trust Charity, added: “Kay is an amazing volunteer with a sunny personality that brightens up everywhere she goes, always bringing cheer to staff as she distributes donated items.
"She is such a reliable person and is always keen to support the work we are doing.
"This is an amazing challenge she has set herself but also quite scary, in that she hasn’t cut her hair since she was aged three and has chosen to have it all cut off to raise funds for a cause which is close to her heart.”
To donate to Kay's appeal, visit facebook.com/donate/243773740156433
