‘Everyone’s Nan’ takes the chop for charity
A Folkestone restaurant worker affectionately known locally as ‘everyone’s Nan’ has helped her site dish up thousands of pounds for charity.
Grandma Sharon Mansfield, who works in the Brickfield Cookhouse + Pub, has joined forces with her team to raise an incredible £7,500 for a children’s charity after serving up a brand-new look.
Sharon, 53, who has worked for Whitbread restaurants for ten years, took the plunge to shave her head in aid of Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH) after becoming the team’s dedicated charity champion.
Luckily for Sharon, expert help wasn’t too far away – as the team’s hotel manager is a trained hairdresser and was on-hand to help with the pair sitting down in the restaurant to take the chop, watched on by many fellow colleagues and guests who rallied to support.
For Sharon and team, GOSH is a fantastic cause.
She said: “Since becoming the GOSH Champion, a lot of people I talk to have children in GOSH and have such a high opinion for the amazing work they do. I think they do amazing work, it’s nice to be raising amazing money for a charity who work so close to home all across the UK.”
Of the challenge she joked: “I was fine until I sat down in the seat, and then I got a bit nervous but only because the hairdresser was nervous.”
Sharon, who has admitted her hair is starting to grow back and she is enjoying the journey, says that she was inundated with praise of her bravery and how much her new hair suited her.
Hotel Manager Natasha Priddle: “Sharon is a massive credit to Whitbread, and her brand the cookhouse and pub Folkestone. Me and Sharon was talking one day ( trying to steal her gosh secrets). Sharon said if I met my GOSH target I am shaving my hair off. I laughed at Sharon and thought she was crazy .Sharon asked if I could shave her off. I was honoured to be asked to shave Sharon’s hair off for this GOSH even.”
She added: “As a ex hairdressers I definitely was nervous doing this, and Sharon was so brave. It was a busy Sunday we done this , there where family’s , and people just having a drink , saying how GOSH was such a good charity to support.
We even had some guest telling us that there child was even a patient. ( my eyes where welling up) you never get to actually hear from people who this charity have helped.
I am very proud of Sharon for taking on this challenge and if she asked me to do it again I would jump at the chance to help her raise more money.”
Other team raising events included tombolas, seasonal raffles, balloon stands, selling sensory toys/games with earnings going to GOSH.
Sharon will be attending Premier Inn’s London event for GOSH on the 4th September.
Premier Inn is a long-standing partner of GOSH Charity since 2012 and is currently raising funds towards the building of a new world-leading Children’s Cancer Centre at the hospital, which will treat children from all over the UK, including Kent.
ENDS
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About Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity)
Great Ormond Street Hospital Charity (GOSH Charity) stops at nothing to help give seriously ill children childhoods that are fuller, funner and longer. For the hundreds of children from all over the UK who are treated by Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) every day, for children with rare or complex illnesses everywhere, for this generation and all those to come.
GOSH has been transforming the lives of seriously ill children since opening its doors in 1852 and has always depended on charitable support. GOSH Charity funds groundbreaking research into children’s health, cutting-edge medical equipment, child-centred medical facilities and the support services children and families going through the toughest journey of their lives urgently need. But there is so much more we need to do.
Together with our supporters, we can give seriously ill children the best chance, and the best childhoods, possible. Because we believe no childhood should be lost to serious illness.
Join us, visit gosh.org today.
