Men have armpits, backs and chests waxed for charity

Published on Monday 2 March 2009 08:59

SCREAMS of pain are not usually a welcome sound at a birthday party, but at one fundraising event they were all part of the fun.

Burly men were queuing to have their backs, chests and armpits stripped of their body hair as a charity waxing session got underway – but the screams were all from the audience.

As the brave volunteers gripped the bar and clenched their teeth at Mrs Foreman's Inn in Musselburgh last night, they also bit their tongues, – because their friends had pledged more money to charity if they did not scream during the ordeal.

Their friends and family were not so restrained, however, howling with sympathy – and hilarity – throughout the event, which is expected to have raised several hundred pounds by the time the total is tallied up.

Mark Logan, 41, from Musselburgh, had his chest and armpits waxed. As he recovered over a welcome beer he said: "It was absolutely brilliant. I did it for a laugh and for charity."

Jim Finnigan, 57, had his moustache shaved off for the first time in decades. He said: "I've not had my moustache off for 35 years, but I feel great, because we've done it and raised money for a good cause."

The cause was close to the hearts of everyone in the pub. Birthday girl Alannah Grant, of North Berwick, who turned 27 on Wednesday, joined her sister-in-law Sarah Dodds, of Musselburgh, who will celebrate her 22nd birthday on Monday, for a joint party in honour of her godmother, who has terminal cancer.

Guests at the pub, where both girls work, were banned from bringing presents, and were instead asked to donate money to cancer causes, in a bid to help people like their loved one, Grace Ritchie, who is receiving constant chemotherapy at the Western General Hospital's cancer unit.

Alannah said: "My godmother is just a brilliant person. She has always been there for me and we wanted her to know how much we appreciate her.

"I got married back in December and she didn't tell me about her cancer until the week after, all because she didn't want anything to ruin my day.

"She even told me off when she did tell me, because I cried."

Life and soul of the party Grace, 59, who also lives in Musselburgh, lent a helping hand when her son Thomas, 30, had his head shaved. Newly-bald, he said: "I was scared, and a bit emotional, but it's all in the name of a good cause."

"It's going to take a while to grow back, but at least now it's going to take me ten minutes to get ready instead of an hour and a half."

Despite her illness, his mother was determined to have a great night out. She said: "It makes my heart proud seeing everyone here.

"Everyone's in good spirits, the guys will do anything for charity, and as long as everybody's enjoying themselves, that's all that matters.

"There's no point saying 'why me?'. I'm a great believer that when you come into this world there's a day marked when you're going to leave, and it's what you do in between that counts. This party is all about love and you are very lucky if you have it in your life."