Head shave helps out worthy cause

CLOSE SHAVE: Teaching assistant Amy Williams gets to work on Sarah Mossop's locks

1 More Image(s) In Gallery

A TEACHER showed "shear" determination when she had her head shaved in memory of a friend and former colleague who died from cancer.

Hundreds of pupils at North Chadderton School turned out to watch Sarah Mossop have her shoulder-length hair chopped off.

The health and social care teacher was inspired by Haf Willmore who taught at North Chadderton for more than 20 years and explained: "A couple of months ago I lost my close friend and colleague to metastatic breast cancer, which is when the cancer spreads around the body.

"I was thinking about a way to raise as much money as possible and quickly. I tried to think of something that would be a sacrifice for me which would make people put their hands in their pockets and dig deep.

"When I decided to do a head shave I didn't expect to do it in front of so many people! I was was a little bit excited see what it would look like but I was really nervous."

Sarah smashed her target to make £1,000 for Cancer Research UK, a charity which is also supported by the Chadderton Hall Road secondary. Her fundraising total now stands at more than £2,600, with around £2,100 donated on her on-line JustGiving page and £517 by pupils who attended the head shave.

She plans to grow her hair again and added: "It's nice and light and airy, and it feels quite liberating not having to style it. My husband quite likes it but my eldest who is four is not that keen."

People can donate at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarah-Mossop2.

• Check out more pictures of Sarah Mossop on our picture sales page.