‘Vote for my new haircut and help the charity which has helped us’
AFTER spending more than a year in Southampton while his daughter receives cancer treatment, Tom McGahy intends to say thank you to the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation by getting a 'wacky’ haircut – chosen by the public.
Mr McGahy’s locks tumble over his shoulders, but he is happy to lose (almost) the lot to give back to the charity which has supported him and his family for months now.
He wants people to choose whether he adopts a Mohawk, mullet or a ‘moustache’ hairstyle from the New Year.
It has been a tough year for the McGahy family after five-year-old Romy was diagnosed with an 18cm tumour just before her fifth birthday.
Since November 2021, she has been undergoing lifesaving treatment at Southampton Children’s Hospital.
The family – Tom, mum Helen and little sister Zephyr – have been in Southampton all that time, staying in Isaac’s Pad, one of the PPBF’s flats, while her care continues.
Romy has an aggressive neuroblastoma, a cancer that develops from immature nerve cells, that had spread to other parts of her body.
In the past year she has had four different treatments, including surgery, and three different courses of chemotherapy.
‘We feel so lucky to have been able to stay at the flat during an incredibly unlucky period of our lives,’ said Mr McGahy.
‘Caring for Romy while she battles childhood cancer has been intense. The flat has enabled us to stay together as we can walk to the hospital and, when Romy has been out of hospital, she has been able to stay with us at the flat.
‘This has been our second Christmas away from home and the compassionate housing that the PPBF provide has made things so much easier for us during this difficult time.
‘We are so grateful and wanted to raise some money for this amazing charity so that they can continue helping families like ours. We want to raise as much money as possible for this amazing resource.’
The family spent Christmas together at the flat with Romy out of hospital but on a treatment which could be administered ‘at home’.
They had a quiet Christmas, with the best bit being a visit from the children’s Granny and Grampy.
Romy is two months into a block of immunotherapy treatment, with retinoic acid, and will continue this for several more months.
About the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation
Founded by Andy and Jo Priaulx, whose children were born prematurely, it supports local families with premature babies or critically ill children needing off-island treatment.
It runs two flats next to Southampton Hospital, called Aggie’s Burrow and Isaac’s Pad.
The cosy, private and well-equipped flats are just minutes away from the hospital.
Earlier this year, the charity launched its Buy-A-Night campaign to help safeguard the future of its compassionate housing
Which style should Tom have to adopt?
Tom McGahy has put forward three options for his new hairstyle – Mohawk, mullet or ‘moustache’.
You can vote by going to www.bit.ly/3Veg5lm and making a donation, or alternatively search for the Priaulx Premature Baby Foundation on Facebook.
