A POOLE woman shaved her head in memory of her mum who died of cancer and to support her daughter with Crohn's disease.

Raminder Jaswal, 47, from Poole has raised £3,000 for charity Macmillan after she shaved her head. 

The cut was part of the Macmillan 'Brave the Shave' campaign and Raminder has also pledged to donate the hair to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for those in need. 

Raminder said: "You don't normally see women with next to no hair on their head but I wasn't worried about growing my hair and donating it. I really wanted to do that. 

"My daughter lost her hair when she was twelve when she had some treatment for Crohn's disease three years ago. Within ten days of taking medication all her hair fell out, and she was really strong and brave."

Motivated by her daughter, Raminder also shaved her head in remembrance of her mother, Manjit Maun, who died aged 64 in 2017 of ovarian cancer. 

She chose Macmillan specifically as the charity supported her mum throughout her struggles with cancer. 

She said: "She had treatment and chemotherapy and a lot of support from Macmillan. All of us did. I try to fundraise for Macmillan in some way and this year I chose brave the shave. 

"I can never understand exactly what they're going through because others have lost their hair when they are really unwell and fighting something but you think about how people look at you, how you might feel. It's pretty emotional."

Raminder donated her hair to make wigs to be given to young people in need by the Little Princess Trust who donated her daughter a wig when she lost her hair. 

Raminder said: "It was really upsetting to see her lose her hair but also to see a 12-year-old have to cope with it. At the time I asked her if I should cut my hair but she didn't want me to."

"She did everything to help me and even cut some of the hair herself. She spread the word and her friends and their parents have sponsored me which is amazing."