A BIRCHWOOD woman is shaving off her luscious locks for charity in memory of her father and grandmother who died within a year of each other.

Penny O’Hare is raising money for the John Holt Cancer Foundation which was set up after the death of her father, John Holt, and grandmother, Betty Hayes, in 2001 from lung and ovarian cancer.

Chris Holt, Penny’s mother, said: “Penny has been closely involved with the charity for the past five years and has set herself the personal goal of shaving off her hair. It takes a lot of courage to do it.”

The 27-year-old will shave off her full head of hair on June 22 at a family fun day organised by the charity with her hair being sent off to the Little Princess Trust to make a wig for a young child who has lost their hair to cancer.

It has not been an easy decade for Penny whose grandfather, Ernie, and auntie, Teresa, died within two weeks of each other in 2008.

With her hair currently 80cm long, Penny is slightly anxious about having the chop but she will not back down, claims her mother.

Chris, aged 44, said: “Penny is such a pretty young girl so she will look lovely no matter what she does. She is determined to raise enough money as possible for the charity.”

Set up in 2005, the charity provides a much-needed refuge for anyone affected by cancer where all the activities and workshops are free.

Chris, who works full time for the charity, said: “Cancer stops at the door and we provide a place for everyone to forget about their daily battle.”

To give a donation visit justgiving.com/pennyohare or for more information about the charity visit jhcancersupport.com