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Sudden death of father inspires daughter to shave her head

Zara wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped after the family's sudden loss.

A Partick teenager has shaved her head raising more than £1,100 for charity.

Zara Frazer lost her beloved dad to a heart attack in January.

‘Big John’ was a popular door supervisor at the Nice and Sleazy bar in Sauchiehall Street for many years.

Zara wanted to say thank you to everyone who helped the family after the sudden loss.

Her fundraiser fetched £1,160 for Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland. 

Zara said: “I wanted to do something to remember my dad and also as a way of saying thank you to everyone who helped us afterwards. 

“I’d always wanted to shave my head, but mum would never let me until now. 

'Strange'

“I set a target of £200 because I thought that was do-able, but I soon went passed that. 

“For the shave itself, I sat in my gran’s back garden and my uncle used the clippers on me. 

“It was strange to see my hair falling around me – it didn’t seem real until then!” 

Zara and mum Kirsti with the amount raised for charity.
Zara and mum Kirsti with the amount raised for charity.

John was just 57 when he died suddenly on January 31. 

He had an existing heart condition, but family and daughters Zara and Kathryn, 24, have felt his loss particularly keenly. 

For mum Kirsti, there was no question that she’d back Zara’s fundraising plan, although she admits she was nervous about the end product. 

Kirsti says: “I’d always said no when Zara asked to shave her head, but I couldn’t this time because it was for such a great cause. 

“I did wonder if she should be left with some hair, but I was overruled and told a head shave has to be all the way! 

“Her hair is very thick, and there was a lot of it. But it was all gone in about 10 minutes. 

“Choosing to get rid of your hair a bold thing for a teenager to do because these are difficult years and not everyone would choose to stand out. 

“But Zara looks amazing, so striking. And everyone has been very complimentary. 

I wanted to do something to remember my dad and also as a way of saying thank you to everyone who helped us afterwards

Zara Frazer

“I’m so proud of her for what she’s done. I’m very proud of both of my girls. 

“Kathryn found her dad just after he had died, and it’s been a very traumatic time for them both. 

“Friends had set up a GoFundMe to help the girls when they lost their dad. 

“And Zara saw her own GoFundMe as a way of saying thank you to everyone who rallied round us. 

“We cannot thank everyone enough for all their support, financial and emotional. 

“It’s wonderful for Zara to know she has made a difference with her efforts.” 

Zara, an S4 student at Hyndland Secondary School, said: “My friends love it and think it looks great. 

“I’m just pleased to have raised the money for such a good cause as Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland.” 

Andrea McIntyre, community and events manager with Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, said, “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Zara and her family.  

All off … Zara feels the difference after 10 minutes.
All off … Zara feels the difference after 10 minutes.

“Zara is very brave to do have done something so courageous to raise funds to help and support other people,  she really is a true fundraising superhero!”

“All money raised in Scotland stays in Scotland to support people living in our communities with chest, heart and stroke conditions, to provide people with the vital support that they need when they need it most.”

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