A STARTFORTH resident raised vital funds for a cancer charity and received rapturous applause when she “braved the shave” in Barnard Castle.
Lesley McLennan, from Corn Close, said she was amazed at the support of her friends and family when she made the decision to have her luscious locks lopped off to raise £1,765 for Macmillan Nurses. Mrs McLennan, whose mother Dot is suffering from inoperable brain cancers, came up with the idea of having her hair chopped before Christmas to raise money for the cancer charity.
In front of a large and cheering audience of family, friends and well-wishers she did the deed at the Black Horse pub on Barnard Castle.
She said: “It’s for my mum and for my dad, who is her complete rock.
“With the guidance of the Macmillan Nurses, he’s doing everything he can possibly do for her. It’s important these wonderful nurses can continue to help anyone who needs them, there are so many who need their help.”
Initially her idea was to donate her shoulder-length tresses to the Little Princess Trust, which uses donated hair to create wigs for children who have lost their own hair because of cancer treatment and other conditions.
However, she decided to “go the whole hog” after mentioning her plan to friends at Planet Fitness.
She said: “I mentioned to them and they persuaded to go for the full shave.
“I thought I might be able to raise £300, but the generosity of the people who have been supporting me has been amazing. I want to thank everyone for their help.”
Mrs McLennan managed to smash that total, raising £1,765 through donations made through her justgiving page and on the night, along with a charity raffle organised by her Planet Fitness friends.
Anyone who would like to make a donation can still do so at justgiving.com/lesley-
mclennan.
