A renowned palliative care consultant has promised to ‘embrace the rainbow’ by dying his hair if he can raise at least £750 for the charity he works for.

Grahame Tosh is Medical Director at Havens Hospices, joining the organisation in February just before it opened the brand new Fair Havens in Prittlewell.

The 59 year old from Rayleigh jokingly says he was ‘ambushed’ by members of the Care Team at the hospice who took it upon themselves to set Grahame a fundraising challenge as part of the charity’s ‘Bare Your Roots’ campaign. Havens Hospices is experiencing a decline in fundraising income following the Coronavirus pandemic which has cancelled or postponed all public events.

Dr Tosh, who also worked for the charity in the 1990’s, says, “I’ve spent many years cultivating my fine head of white hair which I’m recognised for, so naturally the Care Team chose this challenge because they knew that I’d feel a bit silly having to conduct consultations and interviews with a multicoloured barnet.”

“On a serious note, because we see every day the difference good hospice care can make to the experience of someone living with a complex or incurable condition, the Care Team and I wanted to do our bit towards the fundraising efforts to ensure that we can be here for the patients who will need us in the coming weeks and months.”

Rainbows have become the symbol of hope during the Coronavirus pandemic. If the target is reached, Dr Tosh will be filmed having his hair sprayed by members of the Care Team at Fair Havens during their break.

Fair Havens is supporting the NHS by opening all 16 beds at the hospice in Prittlewell to allow patients to be discharged from hospital which frees up acute beds and staff. The charity is also providing support to patients in the community through its Hospice at Home service, and offering support via telephone and videocalls.

To sponsor Dr Tosh, visit www.justgiving.com/campaign/drtosh

To keep up to date with the latest developments at Havens Hospices, please click here.

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