Tuned In... with kmfm Breakfast DJ Emma Saint

I briefly thought of being a hairdresser when I was younger, and I got an insight into what it might have been like when I shaved the head of my kmfm Breakfast co-presenter Rob Wills last week.

To raise money for Red Nose Day, Rob volunteered to have his head shaved, and kmfm Drivetime presenter Andy Walker will be growing his hair for a month. It was brilliant fun getting the clippers out on Rob.

We did it live on air, and had a lot of reaction from listeners, who thought it was hilarious. Rob is normally quite vain about his hair, and will be saving about £100 a month on hair products, so he generously donated £250 to Comic Relief which is fantastic.

On the subject of another good cause, cyclists across the county are getting into gear for this year’s Ride2Raise South Coast Spectacular, a 140-mile cycle ride from Brighton to Weymouth in aid of charity The Childhood Eye Cancer Trust (CHECT).

They include Gillingham mum Julie Firth, inspired to take part by her brave seven-year-old daughter Isla, who lost an eye after suffering from a rare form of cancer when she was younger.

Julie, of South Avenue, hasn’t cycled regularly for 10 years, and she has been training really hard to get ready for the May event. I am planning to help keep her company on her long rides, as I have experience of what she’s going through, since I took part in the event for the first time last year.

I couldn’t have been more unprepared – I didn’t even have a bike – but decided to do it as one of my old teachers from school had a son who was born with the eye cancer retinoblastoma.

I bought a bike and started to do laps at a local park every day, eventually getting up to 20 miles every day. When it came to the actual ride I was excited but nervous. We set off and the Ride2Raise team and the other riders were lovely – everyone helped and encouraged everyone else and the views were amazing. As the wind gushes through your hair, nothing else matters. It is an incredible feeling.

Julie set a fundraising target of £1,000 – which she has reached – so now she has a gruelling training challenge ahead of her before this year’s ride starts on May 5.

If you would like to get involved or help sponsor Julie then email me at emma@kmfm.com or visit www.justgiving.com/Julie-Firth1.