Friends brave the shave for Macmillan Cancer

Mrs Howe, 40, had her hair shaved off with best friend Amanda Boulton at Byram Park Social Club on Saturday.

She said: “I was diagnosed in April with mouth cancer and Macmillan has been there from start to finish. I wanted to give back to them to say thank you.

“You see people in the street with collection boxes and you do give but when cancer hits you personally you want to make more of an effort to give back. They have provided me with a network of support.”

Mrs Howe, of Brotherton, and Mrs Boulton, of Byram, hoped to raise £800 between them.

But the friends smashed their targeted and have already collected more than £4,000.

Mrs Howe said: “It feels absolutely exhilarating. It was brilliant to have the shave but to think we have smashed the target is absolutely amazing.”

Nearly 200 people gathered to watch the friends get the chop including Mrs Howe’s husband Cliff and children William, nine and Naomi, seven. And there was also a fun day with bouncy castle, disco and buffet.

Mrs Howe said she has spent the week adjusting to her new look.

“I have always had long hair, it’s always been just above my bottom,” she said. “To be a total baldy now, I’m freezing.

“I don’t dwell on things, I just get on with it. Now I’m bald and proud.”

Mrs Howe underwent surgery to remove her cancer and is now in remission.

She has donated her locks to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for children who have lost their hair through cancer treatment.

She said: “I didn’t have chemotherapy or radiotherapy. I had surgery and that got my cancer out and I was given the all clear.

“It could have been a different story. I didn’t lose my hair. I had a choice about what to do with it. But a lot of little girls and boys don’t have that choice.”

She thanked all those who had supported them.

The women are among hundreds of people who have took part in Macmillan’s ‘Brave the Shave’ campaign.

The fundraising drive encourages people to shave their heads and stand united with men, women and children who have cancer

To donate to the women, visit bravetheshave.org.uk/donate and search for either Amanda Howe or Amanda Boulton.