A GROUP of friends from Flintshire are taking it upon themselves to raise funds for NHS workers.

The seven men assemble, which consists of Pete Diamond, Thomas Pennington, Sam Kelly, Jake Roberts, Calvin Roberts, Mike Dorrington and Thomas Kellaway, who are all from Buckley, have all agreed to have their heads shaved after being inspired by last Thursday’s (March 26) national 'Clap for Carers' event.

The event, which saw millions of individuals across the UK stand outside their front doors or at their open windows to applaud in appreciation for the NHS staff who are currently being pushed to the limits whilst fighting the coronavirus pandemic.

However, according to Thomas Kellaway, a 27-year-old account manager at the Village Bakery in Wrexham, him and his close friends could do more to show their gratitude.

This resulted in them challenging their self-confessed hair-obsessed friend, Pete Diamond, 28, to shave his newly permed hair-do in a sponsored event to raise funds for NHS workers.

Mr Kellaway, said: "We just stood outside our homes with everyone else just clapping and thought we could do a bit more.

"We have a friend who is a nurse, so we know what pressure she and her colleagues are under right now.

"Our friend, Pete loves his hair and has only just had it permed.

"He did say he’d shave his head if we could raise £300 thinking we would never get that much.

"In fact we managed it in a matter of a few minutes, so we all decided if it got to £1,000 we’d all do it.

"Now, less than 24 hours later, we are up to more than £ 2,600 which is amazing.

"The plan now is to raise as much as we can and one of the lads, Sam Kelly, has set up a Virgin Just Giving page and the total is climbing all the time, it really is fantastic.

"The problem is because we have to stay at home we are doing the heads shave next Wednesday evening in our respective homes and broadcasting it live on a social media platform, probably Facebook.

"We are working out the technicalities."

The group, a part from Mr Kellaway who is from Sheffield, all attended Elfed High School in Buckley together.

Pete Diamond, who works for Lloyds Banking Group at Chester Business Park, stated hat he never expected to be shaving his newly permed hair.

He said: "The lads came up with the idea and suggested I shave my head.

"My hair is my pride and joy to be honest and I thought that they were joking - which is why I said if they raised £300 then I'd do it.

"I never thought they would get anywhere near that amount – but they did in about two minutes.

"It was too late then to back down but they've agreed to do it too if we got to £1,000 - and we soon did that.

"So next Wednesday evening my wife will be shaving my hair off and we will be streaming it live on Facebook.

"I’ve just been so impressed at what the NHS staff have been doing and the pressure that they have been under, which is why we just want to do something to help and it’s certainly snowballed.

"I can’t believe the amount of money we have raised so far, it’s amazing."

Donations from the Virgin Giving page, will go towards funding well-being packs and gifts for staff and volunteers on NHS wards and departments.

Items will include food deliveries, high energy or protein bars and drinks, snacks, refreshments, wash kits, overnight stay kits and more.

Money raised will also go towards the cost of travel, parking and accommodation for NHS staff and volunteers expenses, as well as other items as requested by NHS charities that may enhance the well-being of staff and volunteers caring for coronavirus patients.

To sponsor the Buckley boys, visit www.gofundme.com/f/brave-the-shave-nhs