Shrewsbury’s annual flower show will see more than just roses pruned and dahlias clipped as two hair stylists will be on hand to snip the hair of festival goers while raising funds for charity.
The Darwin Shopping Centre’s K2 salon proprietor Philip Minton and hair stylist Georgina Hughes, 23, will be on hand offering free styling sessions while inviting donations in support of a local cancer charity.
It’s the third time in four years K2 staff have been at Shrewsbury Flower Show raising funds for the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital-based Lingen Davies Cancer Fund which aims to improve cancer services for the relief of Shropshire and Mid-Wales patients.
Philip, who has run hair salons in Shrewsbury for 42 years including K2 in the Darwin Centre for the last nine years, says he is pleased to once again be able to support the Lingen Davies Appeal.
He said: “We did the same in 2010 and 2011 and I’m thrilled to be going back. Lingen Davies Cancer Relief does a really important job in making things a lot more comfortable for many cancer patients.
“Over the years we, at K2, have had many clients who have been treated themselves for cancer and the Appeal has supported them exceptionally well. It’s certainly a charity we are keen to support.
“I am going along with one of our stylists, Georgina Hughes, as well as a couple of trainees. We will be working flat out trying to raise as much money as we can for the Appeal.
“In previous years it has been incredibly busy and really hard but enjoyable work.”
Stylist Georgina Hughes, 23, who has worked at K2 for seven years having started out as a Saturday girl, says she is looking forward to the event.
She said: “It’s definitely hard work but a really good couple of days. We are going to be there Friday and Saturday. I’ve done it twice before and it’s amazingly busy.
“I think we raised around £700 last time which was amazing but hopefully this year we can better that total. Phillip has arranged goodie bags too full of hair products which we will be giving out for a small donation.”
She added: “We have also supported the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund. It’s a local charity and benefits so many people in the area.
“We will be in the Darwin Centre marquee at the Flower Show so if you want a whole new look, a different style or just a trim, pop down and see us and help raise funds for what is a very good cause.”
Kevin Lockwood, Manager of the Darwin, Pride Hill and Riverside Shopping Centres, said: “It seems like a really good deal to me. You can get your hair cut by two top stylists and raise money for a really important local charity as well.
“K2 have been brilliant over the years at getting involved in things like this and they’re a really community focused business and top quality too – a few weeks ago Philip was styling the hair of the stars at the British Soap Awards.”
Lingen Davies Cancer Fund Fundraising Manager Louise Davies says she is delighted that, once again, Philip and his K2 staff are supporting the charity.
She said: “It’s absolutely fantastic that K2 have chosen to support us once again. It’s so important and their continued support is really important and welcome.
“As a charity we have been committed, since 1979, to buying new equipment and fund new buildings to be used in support of patients requiring cancer care.”
She added: “The charity changed its name to the Lingen Davies Cancer Relief Fund in 1994 in recognition of the hard work and dedication of previous mayor of Shrewsbury Bernard Lingen and local accountant Frank Davies.
“They had initially launched the Cobalt Unit Trust Fund to raise funds to build and equip a new Radiotherapy Department at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, so people with cancer in Shropshire and Mid Wales could receive their treatment and care locally.
“Since 1979, the charity continued with its commitment by raising funds to provide new buildings and equipment to give a more comfortable and suitable environment for local cancer patients.
“In April 2013 we changed the name of the charity to the Lingen Davies Cancer Fund. It’s our aim to continue investing the millions of pounds we raise to improve the facilities for local cancer patients.”