Petpals’ Emma says ‘Balls’ to cancer with charity head shave!

27th September 2016

petpals-york-nigel-and-emma

Pic: Emma and Nigel, owners of Petpals York

When Emma Read, owner of Petpals York found out in May 2016 that her partner Nigel had testicular cancer it was, as one can imagine, a huge shock.

The pair were in the middle of a move from Selby to York and with one thing and another Nigel never quite got around to having it checked out. Finally, once the boxes were unpacked and they were settled in their new home, he went to the Doctors and discovered that the problem he thought wasn’t a problem, was in fact cancer. He was immediately admitted for surgery and fortunately Nigel didn’t need chemo or radio therapy.

It is now four months later and Nigel is feeling great. In further good news, he has recently received the results of blood tests that have shown him to be clear of cancer and he and Emma are starting to get their lives back on track, after the upheaval of the past four months.The John Hartson Foundation

During his treatment, Nigel found great solace, support and inspiration in a book called ‘Please don’t go’ by former Wales striker John Hartson, who himself beat testicular cancer. The book charts Hartson’s own struggle with the illness which, because he ignored the lumps for four years before seeking treatment, led to the cancer spreading to his lungs and brain. Hartson is now devoting his life to educating men about testicular cancer, encouraging them to check themselves regularly and raising money through the John Hartson Foundation.

Seeing the positive effect the book had on Nigel, Emma decided to do a fundraiser for the charity that had done so much to help him.  As a lack of hair is so often synonymous with treatment for cancer, Emma has decided to brave the clippers and will be having her head shaved at Hairport in Dringhouses near York, in an ‘80’s Skinhead Girl’ haircut (think shaved at the back but fully fringe at the front!) in a few weeks’ time.

Emma says,

‘Nigel is determined to join the foundation on their Ben Nevis Challenge next year but I wanted to do something to support Nigel and this seemed a great way to do it. Hopefully it will not only raise some money for the John Hartson Foundation but also encourage people to talk about testicular cancer and encourage more men to check themselves for any signs of the disease.’

A representative from the John Hartson Foundation said,

‘Lots of people do brave things for charity but for a woman to shave her hair of in support of her partner who has testicular cancer is such a brave and amazing thing to do.  We at the John Hartson Foundation would like to say a big thank you for her generosity and efforts and wish her all the best and Nigel a speedy recovery.’

If you would like to support Emma’s head shaving exploits you can donate via her Just Giving page. If you would like to find out more about the John Hartson Foundation you can visit their website.

We will update you with an ‘after’ photo once the shave is done!

Good luck Emma from everyone at Petpals x

To visit Emma’s Just Giving Page – Click Here

To visit the John Hartson Foundation website – Click Here

 

ENDS                                                                                                                                  SEPTEMBER 2016