Mum shows that one close shave deserves another

Jodie Hook, from Bradenham, near Dereham, with her children Teddy, six, and Charlotte, 10. Picture: Supplied by Jodie Hook (Image: Archant)

The 40-year-old was hunting for bugs with her son in her back garden in Bradenham, near Dereham, when she tripped up on her flip-flops and took a bad fall.

In severe pain, Mrs Hook broke and dislocated her ankle in the mishap on April 21.

Now after being helped by a lifesaving Norfolk charity, Mrs Hook has decided to give something back.

She said: “I was doing a little project with my son, bug hunting. We were near the River Wissey, which runs through the bottom of our garden. It was a difficult spot and I fell.

Jodie Hook, from Bradenham, near Dereham, had her head shaved to raise money for Nars (the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service). Picture: Supplied by Jodie Hook (Image: Archant)

“Paramedics came and so did NARS (the Norfolk Accident Rescue Service) and they were able to push the dislocated ankle into place.

“I later had to go to hospital and have an operation - I had pins and a metal plate inserted.”

Mrs Hook has been unable to walk since the procedure, but said her son Teddy, six, and daughter Charlotte, 10, had both been enjoying whizzing around with her on the wheelchair she has had to use.

She is now looking forward to making the transition to crutches for the next phase of her recovery.

But Mrs Hook, who is volunteer chairman of the Norfolk Lady Taverners fundraising group, did not want to let the injury stop her helping others.

So she decided to have her scalp shaved bare in order to raise money for her saviours at NARS.

More than £2,600 has so far been donated towards her appeal for the rescue group, which has recently been on the brink of closing because of a lack of funds.

Mrs Hook said: “They were a great help and they get zero funding from the government, so I wanted to do something to support them.”

NARS, now in its 50th year, has a core team of volunteer doctors, nurses, critical care paramedics and first responders.

They are on call 24/7 to provide specialist critical care beyond what a normal ambulance can offer.

Chris Neil, NARS chairman and critical care paramedic, said: “We are truly grateful to Jodie for doing such an amazing and drastic thing as shaving her hair off to raise money for us. Every penny that comes in goes towards keeping us operational.”

To donate, visit www.totalgiving.co.uk/mypage/jodiesheadshave