A dog-daft dad is set to endure his own Hallowe’en horror next week when he has a full body wax for charity.
Lee Holland is taking on the stinging challenge in a bid to raise funds for the Edward Foundation, a charity that rescues and rehomes bulldogs.
A dedicated volunteer for the charity, Lee has opened up his Johnstone home to several dogs as a foster carer and has adopted five dogs in need of a forever home.
Now the 50 year old is taking on a Hallowe’en challenge to raise much-needed funds for the charity, which can easily see veterinary bills run to £10,000 per month.
Lee told the Express: “As a volunteer, my family and I are involved in putting on events and fundraisers and going for monthly walks with other owners of bulldogs.
“But none of those events can go ahead, so I thought let’s do this to raise a few quid.
“I was diagnosed with MS in 2000. My body is not that of an athlete, there are no marathons or jumping out of planes. So I thought I would lie down and let two women tear strips off me.
“We have called it the real life horror show.”
The date and time of Lee's challenge is still to be confirmed, but Charelle Gallagher and Jacqueline Stewart, from Hidden Beauty in Johnstone, have agreed to complete the waxing free of charge.
And while there will be no audience due to Covid-19, Lee says the whole challenge will be documented with pictures and videos.
Currently the proud carers of a very timid bulldog called Paloma and a pug called Percy, Lee became involved with the Edward Foundation four years ago when he and his family first looked to home a rescue dog.
He, together with partner Alison and daughter Mya, became the proud owners of Lola, an older dog that required a quiet life and a larger garden.
The dog had caesarean scars from breeding and with some TLC quickly warmed the hearts of the Holland household.
“She fitted us and we fitted her and off we went adopting bulldogs,” Lee said, explaining the family has so far adopted five bulldogs and fostered 12.
“To see them flourish and to go to their forever home is fantastic,” he added.
The Edward Foundation was founded in March 2011 when a group of people on a bulldog owners’ forum collectively bought a dog which was advertised for sale while looking particularly ill.
He was named Edward and quickly had all his health needs met by the group and rehomed.
That success led, in 2013, to the formation of a fully-registered charity, which is run by De Randall, Marion Beardall and Margaret Cassidy in Scotland.
It focuses on looking after bull dogs but also takes on French bull dogs and pugs that need urgent care.
The charity has around 100 volunteers in the Paisley area alone who have helped the charity rehome an incredible 1,300 dogs since its inception.
To sponsor Lee log on to www.gofundme.com/f/wax-on-hair-off-for-the-edward-foundation
