A music student from Markfield has marked her 21st birthday by shaving her head in memory of her cousin and raising money for Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People.
Rosie Bland, 21, underwent the head shave on May 22 as part of a fundraising campaign for the East Midlands hospice, with a goal of raising £1,000 in honor of her cousin, Lucy Rawlings. The date also carried special significance as it would have been Lucy's 23rd birthday.
A Personal Tribute
Lucy, from Coalville, was diagnosed with metastatic rhabdomyosarcoma, a rare and aggressive soft tissue cancer, at the age of 10. She sadly passed away in November 2019 at the age of 15.
Rosie explained that Lucy spent her final weeks at Rainbows Hospice, where she received specialist end-of-life care. "They made her as comfortable as possible, she was surrounded by family, and she received the most wonderful care. The staff were so supportive and the hospice felt very welcoming," Rosie said.
Birthday Decision
Rosie added that she had long wanted to shave her head and chose her 21st birthday as the perfect moment to do it in Lucy's memory. Her mother, Amy, carried out the cut. "She was such a happy child. We grew up playing games, watching films and spending hours on video calls. She loved animals, especially her dog Milo and her horse Bella," Rosie recalled.
Rainbows Hospice Community Fundraiser Kerry Laurie praised Rosie's efforts, noting that the charity relies on donations to continue providing specialist palliative and end-of-life care for children and their families.
Rosie's fundraiser is currently open, with donations supporting Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People. Residents can support the campaign by visiting Rosie's official donation page online. To find out more about how to support Rainbows, visit the charity's website.
