North Berwick firefighters brave the shave for crew member Dave

KIND-HEARTED firefighters have raised thousands of pounds for charity by staging a mass head shave at their station.

Dave Kerr

The brave group decided to shed their locks after colleague Dave Kerr was forced to shave his head due to losing his hair following a bone marrow cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

Dave, 59, decided to go completely bald when his hair began falling out due to undergoing several gruelling chemotherapy sessions.

Now a number of Dave’s workmates and friends have helped soften the blow by braving the shave in support of their pal’s plight.

North Berwick SFRS crew before they braved the shave

The large scale charity hair shave took place at the North Berwick station in East Lothian last month and has so far helped Dave raise close to £4000 for The Fire Fighters Charity.

Dave, who has been a firefighter for the past 27 years, said: “I have been totally overwhelmed with people’s generosity and to be honest my initial target was just £500.

“But after word got out we have been inundated with donations and I can’t thank everyone enough.

“And as for my colleagues and pals to join me in losing their hair, it has really been so touching.

Dave Kerr and his North Berwick Scottish Fire and Rescue colleagues

“We all had a great laugh doing it.”

Local crimper Amanda Ramsay put her clippers to good use and shaved all the volunteers in just under two hours.

All of those taking part in the shave wore masks and Amanda cleaned and sanitised all of her equipment in between each person.

And once their cut was complete, each participant was given a medal and a badge which was delivered to them by a remote-controlled fire engine.

Dave’s wife Karen, 34, also wanted to thank all those who took part and had donated cash and added: “The support Dave has had has been unbelievable.”

As well as fighting blazes for more than two decades Dave, from North Berwick, also served his country for 12 years as a member of the Royal Engineers.

The Fire Fighters Charity provides rehabilitation and support services for firefighters, including serving and retired firefighters, fire service personnel and their families.

An online fundraising page has been set up and anyone wishing to donate is asked to visit justgiving.com/fundraising/david-kerr59

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