VIDEO: See Laggan teacher's shocked reaction to new look after NHS fundraising head shave

One of Badenoch’s primary school teachers has shed her locks in support of the NHS frontline workers who are doing such a heroic job in the battle with Covid-19.

Lisa Ross, of Newtonmore, is of course currently locked out of her classrooms at Gaskmore Primary School in Laggan – and wanted to make a gesture on behalf of nurses including her own sisters, Julie, who lives in Essex and Gemma, based in Glasgow.

“We’re both in Accident and Emergency,” Julie Falconer told the Strathy, “and it’s not just us who are so proud of her what she’s done.

“Lisa has had overwhelming support from the valley and she raised more than £2000 in only four days!”

But it isn’t just the fundraising – now nudging £3000 – which has impressed Lisa’s sisters.

“By doing what she did, Lisa also helped give confidence to cancer patients who have to have their own hair shaved during their treatment,” said Julie.

The 48-year-old teacher said she was only too happy to do it.

“The timing was all right, in that the school is off at the moment, of course, and with any luck my hair will all have grown back when we reopen.

“I wouldn’t want to scare the children with my new look,” she joked.

It had been a big decision to go ahead with it but she had been fully supported by “the boys”.

Her husband Peter was fully in favour of the gesture, she said.

“He was absolutely fine with it.”

And their 16-year-old son Xander was not only happy for mum to shed her locks for such a good charity, he was even prepared to do the job for her.

“Considering he had no haircutting experience, Xander did a pretty good job all round,” said Lisa, who was brave enough to stream her ordeal on Facebook.

More and more people have been signing up to offer their moral and financial backing to NHS causes while so many frontline health workers are still short of proper PPE and selflessly placing their own health in jeopardy for the sake of others.

“I have had a simply huge reaction,” a delighted if slightly chilly Lisa celebrated at the family’s home just outside the village.

“I actually set a target of £1000 but before no time at all well over twice that had been pledged. I was astonished. I never thought I would get anywhere near that.”

For all that, there is still a chance to contribute – and one extra helper for the cause has been a young girl in the village Katie MacRae. Said Lisa: "Katie added £260 to it by doing her own fundraiser of 'guess the baby weight' as her mum, Gillian, is due any day now!"

Strathy readers who want to join in can do so via the giving page NHS Charities Together here

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