A Clayton Brook woman had a hair-raising experience - and raised more than £1,380 for charity in in memory of her mother.

Karen Brooker, 40, lost her mother Shirley Dillon last March and her aunt Dorothy Monks the following month to cancer.

And when, earlier this year, she found out that her friend’s 17-year-old son had been diagnosed with leukaemia, she decided to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Karen, who works as a casual volunteer at Clayton Brook Community House, said: “I lost my mother and aunt last year but when I heard that John had been diagnosed with cancer, I wanted to do something to raise money because it brings it home to you.

“Cancer could affect anyone of us and if me doing this helps, then that’s brilliant.

"We had a great time and I am delighted with the amount that I managed to raise.

“A friend cooked and sold food on the night and it was a fantastic effort.”

Karen says her children, Robert Brooker, 22, Kelly Jackson, 20, Christopher Brown, 17, and Gemma Brown, 14, were not too keen on seeing her without hair.

She said: “They were not too keen on me doing it and it does feel a bit weird but Cancer Research UK is a great cause and I am glad that I did it.

“It’s the wrong time of year to be doing it really with it being so cold but I have a lovely hat which I will be wearing for the next few weeks!”

Sarah McPhee, Cancer Research UK’s area volunteer manager, said: “We’re delighted Karen has decided to fundraise for Cancer Research UK.

"She has set herself a fantastic challenge as well as helping raise valuable funds for Cancer Research UK.”

“Cancer Research UK’s 4250 scientists, doctors and nurses across the UK are committed to understanding, preventing and treating cancer.

"Through their work, the charity hopes to improve survival rates, ensuring that more families stay together for longer.”

For more information about the work of Cancer Research UK, log onto the website below.