WHEN Preston teacher Martin Lowe decided to have his hair cut, he thought he'd teach the school a lesson.

The daring Information Technology instructor from Fulwood High School in Blackbull Lane, had his locks and beard chopped for the first time in 25 years.

But it wasn't done to teach IT - Martin took the plunge in a brave publicity stunt to educate pupils about the Anthony Nolan Bone Marrow Trust.

"There are currently 3,000 people in the UK waiting for a bone marrow tissue match to be found before they can have a transplant," he said adding:

"Due to media coverage, 20,000 people have come forward over the past year to be put on the register."

But he stressed the need for more, and in particular, male and ethnic minority donors to sign up.

Martin has only just become a bone marrow donor.

"I became involved with the Trust after a friend's daughter was diagnosed with a-plastic-anaemia," he said.

When he found out his friend's daughter needed a transplant, it really brought it home and he signed up straight away.

So far Martin's raised £1,000 for the Trust through his hair cut and other events, that's enough for tissue tests for 20 volunteers. Anyone interested in becoming a donor or raising money for the Trust, should call Steve Joyce on 0161-446-1151.

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