Newbury mum shaves off 13-inch locks for charity

Katherine Stevens, aged 36, of Speen Lane, went under the clippers to raise awareness of the effects of cancer and to raise cash for Cancer Research UK.
She also donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that gives real-hair wigs to children affected by cancer and chemotherapy.
To bring in further funds, Mrs Stevens ran an all-day raffle and cake sale in The Body Shop, inside the Kennet Shopping centre last week which raised an additional £215.
She made the decision to shave her head following the death of her mother, Hilary, who lost a battle with bowel cancer in 1999 aged 54, and the death of her oldest school

friend Diane Gernetzky who fell victim to skin cancer in 2011.
A voluntary veterinary nurse at Coach House Veterinary Surgery, East Woodhay, Mrs Stevens said that she was nervous about losing her hair, having grown it for 15 years.
However, the final push came when she saw a young girl having chemotherapy in hospital last year.
She said: “I saw a teenager having chemotherapy, a beautiful girl, absolutely stunning. When she left, she put a wig on.
“I thought, ‘Here’s a girl who is absolutely stunning without any hair and, as a society we don’t accept it’.”
She added that she was overwhelmed by the amount of support she had received, from friends and family, members of the public and local businesses.
She extended particular thanks to her husband and two sons, aged two and four, and Jason Palmer Hairdressing, Oxford Street, Newbury, who shaved her head for free.
“I could not possibly have done this without the support of my husband and my little munchkins, whom I am sure will be laughing at my egghead for many days to come,” she said.
To date, Mrs Stevens has raised £2,716 and is still collecting. To make a donation visit