PLAYERS at AFC Darwen took on a hair-raising challenge to raise almost £2,000 for charity.

Reserve team manager Matthew Pilkington and almost half the team’s players had hair waxed, shaved or both to raise money for the Rosemere Cancer Foundation.

The event was arranged in support of Matthew’s mum Kathryn, of Spire Close, who was diagnosed with breast cancer in April.

Beauticians Frankie Clough and Toni Duce shared the hair removal task at a fun night held at the club and organised by Matthew’s sister Natalie Pilkington, 21, a supply teaching assistant, and his fiancee Shelley Wood, 26, a nail technician.

Matthew had his head shaved and legs waxed, while players Scott Young had his chest shaved and Ross Danson had a head shave.

Teammates Ryan Steele, Anthony Hodges and Luke McKenna had their legs waxed.

Cousin Daniel Pilkington had his legs waxed, as did friend Billy Fogg, and another cousin, David Lynch, had his head shaved and a third, Karl Brown, his chest waxed.

The money raised on the night was swelled by a donation from friend Matthew Taylor, who completed a sponsored bike ride from Darwen to Blackpool.

The total raised will be boosted further when another friend, Massimo Page, does a sponsored skydive next March.

Natalie said: “It was a great night and we would like to thank everyone involved.

“Mum is doing okay at the moment. She has finished her chemotherapy and has surgery shortly.

“We wanted to show mum that we are all with her all the way.”

Rosemere Cancer Foundation fundraises to bring cancer care to patients from across Lancashire and Cumbria wherever they are treated.

It raises much-needed money for local cancer research, equipment and training that cannot be provided by the NHS.

It also funds patient welfare projects such as free access for all patients to complementary therapies to help them better cope with the side-effects of their treatment.