A CHARITY fundraiser has been waxing lyrical after enduring the agony of a beauty treatment to raise money for charity.
Darlington College learning support advisor Rob Mazur, 35, took the eye-watering decision to challenge himself to a sponsored leg wax in aid of Arthritis UK.
The life-debilitating condition affects his girlfriend Selene Diduca, 35, who was diagnosed with the crippling ailment three years ago. Rob is also planning to take part in The Great North Run to raise £400 for the charity.
“Selene used to be extremely active until she was diagnosed with arthritis in 2012,” said Rob, of Darlington.
“We would regularly go away to the Lakes where she was a prolific mountain climber but all that has stopped now as she is in too much pain.
“I’ve had my chest waxed before for charity and it made me cry so this time I opted for a half leg wax which I know will be just as painful – but it will not be half as much pain as Selene has to live with every day.”
In the UK, around 10 million people of all ages, including children, suffer from arthritis which causes pain and inflammation in the joints.
Darlington College first year beauty student Megan Blackie, 16, of Darlington, who volunteered to wax Rob’s legs, is also a prolific charity fundraiser after she was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when she was just six-years-old.
“I know how hard it is to raise money for a charity that is close to your heart which is why I offered to help Rob,” said Megan, who is hoping to do a skydive later in the year for Chester-le-Street based charity Type 1 Kids.
“I’d like to see a lot more money raised to help research into arthritis and diabetes as a lot of people don’t really understand what it is like to live with conditions like these every day.
“Rob was my first ever waxing client so I was just as nervous. It must have been painful for him as he has rather hairy legs but it’s a great way to help raise money for such a worthwhile charity.”
