COVID hair growth prompts shave for charity challenge

While most Kiwis were ecstatic to get a haircut following our national COVID lockdown in 2020, Hawke’s Bay DHB Head of Finance Chris Comber was so busy getting through the daily workload he gave up on booking an appointment and decided to go a year without a haircut.

“We came out of lockdown at the end of April then all of a sudden it was August, which is when colleagues and family members started looking at me sideways and asking questions about my shaggy hair – some positive, others not so,” he quips.

“I just decided at that point it might be interesting to grow it for the remainder of the year with the intention of getting it cut in January, but then colleagues at our Christmas party suggested shaving my head for charity which I embraced straight away.”

Chris, who is a proud father to 8 year-old Harrison and 14- year-old Isobella, Husband to Debbie and a leader with Greendale/Tamatea Scout Group, says it wasn’t hard finding a charity to support.

“I wanted to do something to support children because I work with youth so much in my spare time, so I did some research and found a local charity which supports young people and their families living with cancer called The Acorn Project Hawke’s Bay.

“Acorn is essentially the local charity on the ground in Hawke’s Bay now which replaces Canteen who have moved to a digital support service.

“The aim is obviously to raise as much for The Acorn Project as possible – they are offering amazing support services to local families and I’d love to see as many people as possible get behind their great work.”

Chris’ shave the shaggy hair day will be held on Friday 26 February. (More details to come).

Fundraising Target: $5000 minimum but if $20,000 is reached, Executive Director Finance Carriann Hall has committed to getting a #1 shave on the day also!

The DHB will be in regular contact with The Acorn Project Hawke’s Bay founders to update on how we’re tracking with our donation targets. Let’s get to $20,000!!