The launch of a new city centre salon in Dundee is set to provide a funding boost to a specialist unit at Ninewells Hospital.
Partners Rhys Davidson, 26, and Gemma Slade, 32, are both hairdressers and have merged their businesses into a franchise called Coloured Soul with branches in Dundee, Broughty Ferry and Tayport.
The pair will officially open the Dundee salon on Union Street on Saturday and intend to donate all the proceeds to the neurology department at Ninewells to help in the care of people who suffer from Motor Neurone Disease (MND).
Rhys told the Tele that he was inspired to raise money for the unit after the passing of a loved one, who suffered from the disease, four weeks ago. He said: “My partner and I have been putting this together for a few years now and we are finally ready to open the salons.
“I already had one in Tayport and she had one in Broughty Ferry, so we have merged them and brought in another salon on Union Street.
“We are going to donate 100% of the money taken on Saturday to the neurology department at Ninewells.
“We will cut or colour anyone’s hair, or do whatever they want, and all the proceeds will be donated to the department.”
Rhys said he wanted to use the opening of the salon to raise awareness of MND — a rare neurological condition that causes the degeneration of the cells and nerves in the brain and spinal cord which control people’s muscles.
He said: “The day will be dedicated to people who suffer from Motor Neurone Disease.
“We want as many people as possible to come down and hopefully make a big difference in helping the people who provide care for folk who suffer from the condition.
“We thought the grand opening would be a great chance for us to do something good for the community.”
According to the charity Motor Neurone Disease UK, a person’s lifetime risk of developing MND is up to one in 300.
Six people per day are diagnosed with MND in the UK, and it affects up to 5,000 adults across the country.
Anyone wanting to take part in the salon’s fundraiser can book an appointment or pop in on the day.