A BIG-HEARTED reverend who is raising money for charity by shaving her head has already smashed her £500 target.

Jo Parrott, of St Andrew’s Church, Halstead, will brave the shave live on Facebook this Saturday.

She has already smashed her £500 goal, raising a whopping £1,850 and an additional £2,262 in gift aid.

Jo is raising money for the Braintree Area Foodbank, which operates from the church, and SinglePoint, which is part of St Helena Hospice.

Jo said: “This year has been incredibly hard for so many different groups of people and when it comes to fundraising, the options are endless.

“I will be shaving my head to raise money for Braintree Food Bank, who supply food to Halstead, Braintree and the surrounding areas, and SinglePoint, who provide round-the-clock care and support for the families and loved ones of those living with and battling cancer and many other life-limiting conditions.

“I have chosen these two charities because this year even more people are struggling with job loss, financial difficulty and poverty as a result of Covid, and despite the Government’s U-turn on providing meal vouchers for children over the Christmas period, there are still older people, parents, single people of all ages and vulnerable, independent adults and even NHS workers who need support – to name but a few.”

Jo chose SinglePoint because of the support they gave to a friend’s mother earlier this year.

She said: “I don’t think there are many of us who haven’t been affected directly or indirectly by cancer or other life-limiting illness and this amazing service from St Helena Hospice is only ever a phone call away, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.”

The head shave will be shown live on the St Andrew’s Church Facebook page at 11am on Saturday.

Jo added: “If anyone is in a position to donate, then please do – it will make a difference to someone.”

To donate, visit uk.virginmoneygiving.com/JoParrott.