Express & Star

Dreadlocked biker loses locks in charity headshave

She is used to feeling the wind in her flowing blonde locks.

Published
PeeJay Jeffery before and after her headshave

But motorcyclist PeeJay Jeffery decided to brave the shave to raise awareness of a child abuse charity.

The 30-year-old, from Wolverhampton, was joined by friends and supporters at The Giffard Arms pub in the city for the fundraiser in aid of Bikers Against Child Abuse.

PeeJay organised the event after her friend was helped by the charity.

The head shaving begins inside the Giffard Arms pub in Wolverhampton
BACA chapter president Mouth begins the head shaving

She said: “It was a bit frightening at the beginning because my hair was my identity and my shield and I’d be growing it for five years with the dreadlocks.

“I felt vulnerable and it took me down to my basic level, but I know that it will grow back and it’s nothing compared to what children go through with abuse.”

The charity works to empower children not to be afraid and takes on cases of children who have suffered from physical and mental abuse.

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After

Any child helped by the charity is then adopted as a member into the local chapter of bikers, providing a safe place and support for the child.

The head shave event has helped to raise £547 online, with an additional £50 raised on the day and more funds still due to be collected.

The Midlands chapter president, who goes by the name Mouth, said: "The public perception of what we are is different to the reality as we have a wide membership with a range of different backgrounds.

Mouth and PeeJay pose with the rest of PeeJay's hair

"We don't offer psychiatric help or anything like that, but rather let the child know they don't have to live in fear and we're lovely people who want to help them.

"One of the ways we do this is by doing whatever activity the child wants to do, such as painting, shopping and other every day things.

"No one within the organisation takes a wage and everyone is a volunteer, all the way up to the executive committee in America.

PeeJay shows off her shaved hair

"This event works because it gives out information that we exist and we can use this to increase awareness of our chapter and the wider organisation.

"We spend our weekends at events handing out leaflets and we want to be able to do more in Wolverhampton, once we fill in all the forms, so this helps us greatly."

To find out more about Bikers Against Child Abuse, go to bacaworld.org.

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