A bearded councillor is preparing to shave off his hair for Macmillan Cancer Support following his wife’s devastating cancer diagnosis.
North Yorkshire councillor Arnold Warneken will take part in Macmillan’s Brave the Shave during Tockwith Show.
His wife, Alex Marsh, was diagnosed with breast cancer on Tuesday, June 23. Within weeks, the family were told the disease had progressed to stage four terminal cancer.
Alex has also lived with multiple sclerosis for more than 20 years.
Explaining why he decided to take on the challenge, Cllr Warneken, Green Party member for the Ouseburn division, said he had often thought about braving the shave after seeing friends receive support from Macmillan.
He said:
“As more of my friends came to rely on the amazing work of Macmillan Cancer Support over the last four or so years, I kept telling myself that I could Brave the Shave, although I was constantly reminded of the story of Samson.
“Now the need to Brave the Shave has become so much more important to me.
“In the next few months Alex’s life will be reliant on the skills and dedication of NHS staff and I want to do my bit to ensure that the support I anticipate Alex will receive will be there for future patients by helping to fund all they do.”
Originally hoping to raise £5,000, the appeal has already attracted more than 250 donations, with the total exceeding £8,000 and continuing to rise.
Cllr Warneken said he was “daft not brave”, adding:
“The truly brave person here is Alex, going from someone who has lived with MS for more than 20 years and not let it hold her back, to in the space of three weeks being told she has stage four terminal cancer and not wavering.
“She is as solid as a rock and is my Mo Mowlam, a woman Alex admires for the way she handled her diagnosis.”
Cllr Warneken had initially planned not to shave off his beard saying his role as a charity Santa was “also important”.
But he agreed to go completely clean shaven after the pledges passed £5,000.
He added:
“People were saying they would donate more if I lost the beard so I had to do it."
To donate to the appeal, visit https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk and search for ‘Arnold Warneken’.
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