A BRANKSOME woman had all her hair shaved off to support her mum's battle against breast cancer.

Sue Hughes, 48, who works as a customer assistant at Tesco in Kinson, didn't want mum, Shirley Long, 74, to face losing her hair by herself and so she was surrounded by her colleagues on Friday as she braved the shave.

In addition, Sue is hoping to raise £300 for Cancer Research UK to help others after diagnosis.

She said: "My mum was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and is now on her second round of chemo. She just didn't want to be bald. She and I have a giggle together like sisters and I wouldn't want to be singled out, so I decided to have my head shaved so we would be the same.

"Originally my hair was down to my back, as was mum's, but we got it cut off to our shoulders in September to get used to the idea, so it wasn't such a change."

Sue said that since the headshave 'nobody has battered an eyelid' to her new look, except one member of the public who saw her in a cafe and after asking about her hair, she donated towards Sue's fundraising. A customer who saw Sue having her head shaved also asked if she could do a charity run in her mum, Shirley's honour.

Asked why she wanted to help others as well by fundraising for the charity, she said: "It's one of those things that you only understand when you know someone who has been through it.

"I am so proud of her because mum still works full time looking after the elderly. I don't know how she does it. Now I just wish her all the best for the future."

Sue said that she hopes to collect £300 for the charity and predicts that she has raised around £200 so far thanks to friends, family and customer's donations.

Anyone who would like to help Sue to meet her target amount can visit Tesco on Wimborne Road in Kinson to make a donation.