A young man from Stotfold who lost his mum to cancer 15 weeks ago has ‘braved the shave’ at a Royston salon to raise cash in her memory.
Jordan Allen was inspired to have his locks chopped off – with the help of the team at Saks in High Street – after his mum Amanda passed away aged just 49.
The 20-year-old’s sister Stevie Pinnell, 26, said: ”My brother had his hair cut in memory of my mum, who we lost seven weeks after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer on June 15.
“She went into Lister Hospital after complications and after 48 hours she was no longer with us.
“My brother and I cannot say enough about how amazing the Macmillian nurses were – they were always there for us.
“Dawn Atkinson was the Macmillian nurse at the Lister with us, and we could go to her when we didn’t understand what the doctors were trying to explain.”
Macmillan nurses are specialists who assess complex needs, give advice to other healthcare professionals, and support people with cancer – and their families – to understand their treatment options.
Most Macmillan nurses are employed by the NHS and their posts are funded by cancer-support charity Macmillan for usually the initial three years.
After that time, the long-term funding is taken up by the NHS or other partner organisations.
Jordan – who works as a leisure assistant at Pendleton Sports Centre on the outskirts of Arlesey – raised nearly £800 for Macmillan from having his hair shaved off, which he had done in front of his sister, dad Lee, 42, and plenty of other supporters.
Stevie, who lives with Jordan in Stotfold and has worked as an office assistant at Royston solicitors Curwens for the past five years, said: “All the girls from the Curwens office crammed into the little salon in Royston when my brother had his hair chopped off.
“My family and work have been so supportive which has helped us through. Jordan’s friend Liam is already gearing up for another Brave the Shave to help also.
“We wanted to tell our story in order to give support to other families going through the same thing.
“All of this has been such a shock. My mum and I lived together for a while and I still think she is just going to come through the door as always.
“Mum wouldn’t like us to wallow in it, she loved life and wanted us to get on with it.
“She was the life and soul of the party, a free spirit and a loving and giving person who I miss so much.”
To add to Jordan’s total go to bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/jordan-allen.
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