Close shave brings in big boost for top staff

AFTER... Denise Bradshaw's Brave the Shave effort saw her cut off her shoulder-length locks in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support

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A BRAVE wife did her family proud as she shaved her head for charity on her 17th wedding anniversary.

Denise Bradshaw, from Moorside, had her shoulder-length hair cut off in aid of "brilliant" staff at Macmillan Cancer Support.

Macmillan were there for Denise following her mum's cancer diagnosis and when she passed away five years ago.

To show her appreciation, the 51-year-old booked the last available date to hold the head shave event at Royton's Heyside Cricket Club - later to remember it was the date of her 17th wedding anniversary.

Denise said: "I had an absolutely fantastic night, and lots of friends and family came.

"I did get a bit nervous before the shave but it was taking me half an hour to do my hair so I was glad to chop it.

"A friend of mine had hers cut a couple of years ago and I said I might do it at the next opportunity.

"Everybody was saying congratulations and couldn't believe I was having it done.

"It will certainly be memorable."

The event raised just short of £700 for Macmillan, with still more funds to come.

The only available date for Denise's head shave happened to be Saturday, August 19 - hers and husband Paul's 17th wedding anniversary.

But the couple both agreed the head shave, carried out by Scruples One, would make for a very memorable celebration.

Around 20 friends and family members turned out to support Denise for her Brave the Shave effort as well as fellow members of Heyside Crompton & Royton MCFC Supporters Club.

Husband Paul (53) said: "It was very brave of my wife to do this.

"Denise lost her mother to cancer and her father has had a kidney removed due to cancer.

"Members of my family have also been affected by the disease so she wanted to help raise money for Macmillan."

Denise's mum Valerie Burbidge was diagnosed with lung cancer aged 68 and received treatment at the Christie Hospital.

Denise said: "My mum only lived two weeks after being diagnosed.

"Macmillan were there to talk to. There was really no one else - my dad was in bits - and I needed someone to talk to. They were always on the phone.

"They do a fantastic job."

When Denise formerly worked as a carer she also witnessed the charity's support and care for several families.

Denise said: "I would like to say a massive thank you to Emma Williamson who works at Scruples One for doing my head shave, and also to everyone at Heyside Cricket Club for letting me host my event there."

To support Denise's efforts for Macmillan visit https://bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/denise-bradshaw.