A COUPLE of pensioners have 'braved the shave' to raise funds for the charity which has supported their grandson for 14 years.

Cynthia and Phillip Fisher from Pickering decided to brave the cold weather and have their heads completely shaved, as a sponsored fundraiser for Ryedale Special Families (RSF).

The shave took place at their younger son Tim’s wedding reception at Terrington Village Hall last month in front of many guests and friends.

It was performed by Caroline Barnes from Aquarium Hair Design in Pickering, who have been the couple’s regular hairdressers for a lot of years.

The could have so far raised over £4,000 including Gift Aid and donations are still coming in.

Phil said:“Neither of us are spring chickens - 77 and 78 respectively - but we felt we should do a little bit out of the ordinary to help say a special thank you to RSF, who have given so much help and support over many many years - 14 in total - in looking after our grandson Jack, known as JJ, since he was two years old.

Phil added: "JJ recently turned 16 and the day after the shave marked the end of an era as JJ is moving away from the area - and his beloved Pickering - to go to a new school at Kirby Lonsdale.

"He will be attending Underlay Garden School which provides specialist education, therapy and care for children and young people with Autism, and other complex learning and physical disabilities.

I have over many years done fundraising for RSF by way of sponsored walks etc, so this wasn’t be quite as physically demanding - apart from the event taking place at the wrong time of the year. Woolly hats are now the order of the day!”

Rob Davies, Funding Coordinator of Ryedale Special Families said: “It never ceases to amaze us what lengths people will go to in their attempts to say ‘thank you’ by raising funds for us. It certainly made an unusual and interesting spectacle at their son’s wedding reception – let’s hope it’s not too cold for long!”

RSF supports families of children and young people with disabilities and additional needs in Ryedale.

The charity is aiming to raise £1.4million for the new purpose-built, fully-accessible centre in Pickering.

The building will feature five individual sensory or therapy rooms, a large room for group activities, a kitchen for cooking activities and promoting life skills, meeting rooms, accessible toilets including two changing places, an education and skills centre for disabled young adults, a large outdoor safe area with a specially-designed sensory garden, as well as ample accessible parking.

The centre of excellence will replace the current RSF base, a two-storey terraced house in Old Malton which is small and has difficult access for those with limited mobility.

To donated to Cynthia and Phillip Fisher's fundraiser go to https://www.justgiving.com/page/philip-fisher