The Wig Bash raises £7,000 for Shropshire Blood Trust Fund

The Wig Bash, which last year raised more than £7,000 for Shropshire Blood Trust Fund, raised more than £8,000 this weekend. The event was held at the Boyne Arms in Burwarton on Saturday night.

Thea Wilson, 38, organised the first Wig Bash last year to say thank you to the people who saved her life. She was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukaemia, a rare form of the disease, two years ago after noticing bruises. She has now recovered.

She was then introduced to Peter Murray, a businessman from Clun and between the two of them organised the second wig bash. Mr Murray was diagnosed with the same form of the disease, which stops blood clotting properly and can lead to internal bleeding.

The 61-year-old said: "The night was a great success. Dr Nigel O'Connor, founder of the Shropshire Blood Trust Fund, came along in a Ozzy Osbourne wig and there was a spectacular range of wigs on show.

"We were fundraising for the O'Connor Haematology Unit and Ward 23 at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, where both I and Thea have been treated in the past year.

"We had donations from all over the area, such as stays in holiday cottages, a Mini for a weekend, a Clearview stove, a flight in a light aircraft from Shobdon Airfield and many meals and dinners from restaurants and pubs. So far we have had £5,200 in but, what with gift aid and other donations still to come in, we know we will reach between £8,000 to £10,000."

The money will go towards facilities such as a dedicated pharmacy for the O'Connor unit, more isolation rooms for patients and possibly a full day unit in Telford.