Two of Tai Ceredigion’s staff members have a colder winter than usual ahead of them after shaving off their hair, but it was all in a good cause. Stephen Thomas and Richie Coombes, who also had a full body wax, managed to raise over £500 for the Tony Hawkins Appeal Fund.

Tony Hawkins, a former police officer, is the founder and Chair of Disability Action Group Wales, and Ceredigion Disabled People Together. Earlier this year, Tony was bed bound for 23 weeks following recent surgery and his condition continues to deteriorate. He is losing the use of his arms and will be paralysed from the neck down making him quadriplegic. The Tony Hawkins Appeal Fund has been set up to raise £5,000 to help fund a specially adapted mobility vehicle to help Tony in getting around.

Although Tony has been a wheelchair user for the last four years this has not stopped him dedicating his time to helping others, and he co-ordinates various sporting activities for disabled people including the DAGW shooting club, kayaking and disability fishing.

Richie and Steve, who work for Tai Ceredigion’s Medra Service, were keen to support Tony and so far they have raised £530. “We were both keen to find a way of helping Tony as he does so much for other people, especially in the disabled community. A few of our work colleagues suggested we shaved our heads I went a step further and had a full body wax!" said Richie Coombes "We’ve had fantastic support from our families, friends and colleagues and we’d like to give a special thanks to a few people who helped us out" added Steve Thomas. Both agreed that they couldn't have done this without the help and support of Amy Thomas, Beautician of Cardigan; Edit barbershop of Newcastle Emlyn; Preseli Karate Club; Morley Biggs and to all the tenants at Tai Ceredigion's Glascoed Sheltered Scheme in Llandysul for helping out on the hair-raising day itself. They're both off now to buy a woolly hats for the winter!

Thanks to the amazing efforts of Richie and Stephen and to the incredible generosity of everyone who donated money and time, the amount required for the deposit on a wheelchair accessible vehicle has been raised. Tony has ordered the vehicle a Renault Traffic Van and is told that it will be delivered in February or March 2015.

Tony stated that he feels humbled and very grateful to all those people who have helped him to regain some independence. He can continue to do those things that he enjoys and are so important to him. He added “God bless you all”.