Patient raises thousands for cancer appeal

BERNARD Exton presents a cheque for £2,755 to Macmillan after he and Todd Bowers (left) had their heads shaved. Also pictured are Donna Dawson and Jade Hughes (Macmillan 1 to 1) and Steve Lawton (Macmillan benefits advisor)

A CANCER patient has raised more than £2,700 for charity through a sponsored head shave.

Bernard Exton (57) was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in June and has since begun chemotherapy treatment.

The Chadderton resident took on the Brave the Shave event alongside son-in-laws Dave McNicholls and Todd Bowers at the Sportsman bar.

Initiative

A cheque for £2,755 was presented to Macmillan Cancer Support in a huge show of appreciation.

Brave the Shave is a Macmillan-led appeal which sees residents across the UK have all or some of their hair chopped for charity.

Money raised enables Macmillan to support those who are diagnosed with cancer.

Mr Exton, of Foxdenton Lane, said: "I was going to lose my hair through chemotherapy so I thought I might as well do the brave the shave to try and raise some money.

"We all mucked in together.

"I just wanted to give a little bit back to Macmillan who do a fantastic job.

"As soon as you are diagnosed with terminal cancer you get their support.

"They help financially, with form-filling, and day-to-day things you don't think of.

"Later on they will be there for me and with me until the end."

Friends and family turned out to support the men with their head shaves at the end of August, one month after Mr Exton began his chemotherapy treatment.

Every three weeks, Mr Exton attends The Christie Hospital, in Withington, usually with a family member, to undergo treatment.

The former bus driver, who was given six to 12 months to live, said: "Over the years you meet thousands of people.

"I was working for Manchester Community Transport (MCT) in Rochdale but I have worked all over Oldham since 1980.

"I was fit as a fiddle but had to stop working after 36 years.

Sink in

"Your life is turned upside down.

"It takes a while for it to sink in.

"At the moment I'm not that bad and it doesn't seem real at all.

"I'm a practical person and it is what it is.

"I wanted to do the head shave while I was still fit and able to do it as a way of saying thank you."