Stag Barber Co. is raising cash and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK
An Edinburgh barber is offering free haircuts to customers who strip down to their underwear – in a unique charity fundraiser.
On Undies Sunday – that’s Sunday, 28 August to me and you – Murray McRae and his colleague Gary will open Stag Barber Co. on the city’s Lady Lawson Street wearing nothing but their boxer shorts from 10am – 6pm.
Customers who are brave enough to strip off to their pants with them will be given a free haircut in return for making a donation to Prostate Cancer UK.
McRae, a hairdresser of 11 years who opened Stag two years ago, hopes to raise not only cash but eyebrowsthrough the outlandish event.
I wanted to do something that would be a bit more thought-provoking for gents
“I've been wanting to have a charity day for a while and I wanted to do something that would be a bit more thought-provoking for gents,” a fully-clothed McRae told TFN.
“One of the things that effects men – especially a lot of my clients who are middle aged – is prostate cancer so the idea was initially just to have a charity day connected to that."
Although stripping off is a bit of a gimmick McRae says the event is a genuine way to break down barriers and get people talking more about prostate cancer. The pair also hope they might raise as much as £1,000.
“Since announcing we were doing this I’ve had lots of clients talking about it,” he added.
“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 prime for. It's close to me as well as we've had it in our family.
"If we get a couple of guys learning more about it or realising they should get tested then it will be worth it."
Underwear company Bawbags, which donates a portion of its profits to charity, is sponsoring the event and has donated a few pairs of its own boxer shorts as prizes for those who make the biggest donation or wear the most outlandish pair of pants.
Livingston based Reddish/Pink media is helping with the publicity and has made a free gif for the boys to put on social media and it has had over 25,000 views online in just one week.
Prostate Cancer UK has also supplied balloons, posters and information leaflets to hand out on the day.
No appointment is necessary and free haircuts are open to existing and new customers McRae added.
“If someone turns up and they are a bit shy we are not going to turn them away but the whole point of it is that we are trying to have a bit of fun,” he continued.
“It would be great though if we had a line of people going up the street in just their boxers and the event became the male equivalent of the Moonwalk.”
For those not able to take part but would like to make a donation there is also a JustGiving page.
