A woman from Royston who had her hair shaved off at the weekend to raise funds after her sister-in-law was diagnosed with cancer said the level of support she received was “overwhelming”.
When Vicky Thompson’s sister-in-law Shelly Farr was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017, she knew she wanted to do something to help.
She told the Crow: “We are a close family, even though Shelly is living further away in Bradford we would talk on the phone every week.
“I knew I wanted to do something to help, and I thought I don’t have the stamina to run a marathon – but I do have long blonde hair that I could donate to the Little Princess Trust and raise money in the process. I hadn’t done anything like it before.
When Vicky told her husband Ricky, who she has been with for a decade and married for two years, he was extremely supportive of her decision.
The 32 year-old said: “I have been absolutely fine with the thought of losing my hair, and Ricky said if I wanted to do it he would support me.
“It’s been harder to explain to our four-year-old daughter Bethany.
“I told her her that there were other children who are sick and who can’t grow hair and I wanted to give my hair to them – she said it was fine as long as I didn’t cut her hair!
“We were walking down the street and I saw a woman who had clearly had her hair shaved off for the same cause, and I stopped and asked her if it was all right if I spoke to my daughter about it so she could see what it would be like – and the woman was happy to.
“It’s important to stop and talk about these things – it’s about the money, and donating hair, but it’s also about raising awareness as well.”
For the shave on Sunday, family members who were based in Herts were all together in Vicky and Ricky’s home, with Shelly watching on via video call.
“Shelly was on FaceTime and was welling up, It was a really emotional experience. We had so many people in the house – friends, my family, including my parents Chris and Roger, and neighbours. The level of support was so overwhelming – and Bethany got involved and even cut one of my plaits in the end.”
Shelly had her breast removed last year and will be taking drugs to prevent any further cancer growing for the next five years.
Vicky said: “This couldn’t have been done without the money for research and medicine, so I did it and for everyone who’s been touched or affected by cancer, and for everyone out there still fighting.”
Shelley added: “I think Vicky is so brave having made the choice to shave her hair, and I feel that so many people out there who have or are going through cancer treatment can see that losing your hair does not always have to be so daunting.
“It was a pleasure to share Vicky’s experience on Sunday – she looks just as lovely as she did before her hair was shaved. She’s one brave girl!”
Vicky has smashed her £1,000 target and raised £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support. If you want to add to her total go to bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/victoria-thompson.
To read Shelly’s cancer blog ‘My Beast Cancer’ go to www.facebook.com/shellyfarr38.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here