Murray Mcrae is offering free haircuts in return for a donation to charity – if you turn up in just your pants
On Sunday, 28 August I am planning to raise as much money and awareness as possible for Prostate Cancer UK by cutting people’s hair in return for a donation. The catch is I'll only be wearing my boxers — and I'm asking for customers to strip off as well.
I've been wanting to do something for charity for a while and I know that prostate cancer is the most common cancer that affects men – especially at risk are a lot of my clients who are middle aged.
The aim of the day is to be thought-provoking and get people talking about the disease.
It's not like testicular cancer where you would maybe notice something yourself.
The aim of the day is to be thought-provoking and get people talking about the disease
Murray McRae
The fact is, you've got to get your bum checked. I understand that can be pretty embarrassing for most men and the idea of wearing the pants is to say — if we can do this, then you can get a check-up.
If we (Gary who works with me is also taking part) get a couple of guys realising that, then it'll be worth it, but if we raise £1,000 as well that would be absolutely brilliant. We'd need to do a lot of haircuts though.
I'm totally fine with being in my boxers all day. I would say I am at that point in my life where I don't get that embarrassed about things, but if someone turns up and they are a bit shy we're not going to turn them away.
The whole point of it is that we are trying to have a bit of fun. It would be great if we had a line of people going up the street in just their boxers.
We've got a lot of balloons and posters from the charity to put up on the day and they have also given us awareness booklets that we can give out to people.
My friend works for Reddish/Pink media and he made us a gif free of charge to put on our social media. It's had over 25,000 views online in just a week so if 1% that have seen it turn up that's 250 folk.
Since announcing we were doing this I’ve had lots of clients talking about it. I've got one customer who told me he previously had prostate cancer and had his prostate removed. His dad died of it, his uncle had it, and his two sons are at risk. It's close to home as well – we've had it in our family.
We’ve not set a donation amount or anything – we are just asking people to donate whatever they can or what they think the haircut is worth. All the money will be given to the charity.
We’ve also set up a JustGiving page for anyone who can’t make it or is maybe a bit too shy but wants to make a donation.
The underwear company Bawbags are sponsoring us and have given us some boxer shorts to wear with a stags head on them. They've given us some extra pairs as well so we'll have prizes for whoever makes the biggest donation and whoever turns up in the most outlandish pair.
Hopefully it's going to be like the male equivalent of the Moonwalk. If it goes well it would be amazing if it became an annual event.
Murray McRae is the owner of men’s hair salon Stag Barbers, based in Edinburgh.
The Undies Sunday fundraiser takes place at Stag Barbers, 22 Lady Lawson Street, Edinburgh, from 10am until 6pm on Sunday, 28 August. No appointment (or clothing) necessary.
