Forth Valley police officer braves the shave for Strathcarron Hospice

A police officer has braved the shave to raise more than £1700 for Strathcarron Hospice.

PC Sean Owen, a member of the road policing driver training team at the Tulliallan Police Training College, agreed to shave his beard to help raise vital cash for the Fankerton-based charity.

Sean said: “Earlier this year my best friend attended Strathcarron Hospice for help with his cancer and pain relief...I was truly humbled by his bravery and the staff who helped him.

“Throughout the week, nothing was too much trouble for them.

“After this along came Covid-19 and I got to thinking ‘how can I help the hospice after all the care they showed my best friend’.”

He managed to secure some much needed hand sanitiser for the hospice thanks to a kind donation from McQueen Distillery, before his latest fundraising effort.

“As part of our health and safety protocol I had to shave my beard,” he continued.

“Constable Ashley Smith arranged a sponsored shave.

“I honestly I thought, if we raise two or three hundred I would be over the moon, now fast approaching £2000, I am amazed.”

And after donations to the online fundraising page passed the £1000 mark Sean went a step further and shaved his head as well as his beard for the cause.

Ashley Smith said: “Anyone that knows Sean knows the attachment he has to his beard, he hasn't been clean-shaven for six or seven years.

“He made a few promises, so after raising more than £1000 he kept the promises and took his hair off as well.

“Everyone has been showing their support and it’s been a huge group effort to reach this total.

“The amount of report we’ve received and the generosity of officers and staff at Tulliallan has been fantastic.

“We can’t thank everyone enough for their support.”

Sean added: “The page is still open so any donations would go a long way to helping this fantastic caring hospice.”

To donate to Sean’s page click here

Message from the editor

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive. We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you