Huntly-born Kimberley braves the shave for cancer charity
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A Huntly-born woman who's battling breast cancer for a second time has raised £2510 by shaving her hair off.
After first being diagnosed aged 38 in 2020, Kimberley Forsyth underwent 18 months of treatment.
However, the cancer returned in April last year and Kimberley was forced to have a mastectomy.
The 41-year-old, who's been undergoing chemotherapy since November, has decided to 'Brave the Shave' to drum up funds for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Kimberley, a location manager with Aberdeenshire Health and Social Care Partnership, says: "I didn't want to watch my hair fall out again, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.
"I've been overwhelmed by the amount of support I've had.
"I never expected to raise so much money in such a short time."
Kimberley has lived in Aberdeen for the past two decades.
However, a good portion of the cash has come from the Huntly community – both of Kimberley's parents still live in and around the town, as do her four sisters and three brothers.
Another generous source is musicians.
Kimberley is a huge music fan who sometimes attends as many as four gigs a week.
During her first brush with cancer, which coincided with lockdown, she became involved with In Your Ears Music, a Manchester-based online radio station that specialises in promoting emerging bands.
An offshoot of this the Sh1ts and Giggles podcast which Kimberley co-presents with three girlfriends.
She says: "One lives in Belfast, another in Stockton-on-Tees, one in Leicester, then there's myself.
"We have a laugh and chat about music and the gigs we've been to."
"One of the other girls also went through treatment for breast cancer so we support each other.
"We are both in our 40s and way off the age for a routine mammogram, so it shows just how important it is to check your breasts."
Two large donations have come from bands that Kimberley has helped.
She says: "Music is my therapy.
"It's very hard to go through all of this for a second time.
"But you have to try to stay positive otherwise the situation will eat you up.
"I've been off work since October and I really miss it.
"But it's a responsible job and the chemotherapy leaves you too fatigued.
"Similarly I really miss being able to go to gigs, but it's not possible because I can't risk catching a bug or becoming ill.
"I want to thank everyone who has donated. I also want to urge all women to check their breasts regularly and men to check their chests. If anything feels unusual, then seek advice. Coppafeel and Breast Cancer Now are two organisations that promote regular checking.
"The one thing good to have come out of what's happened to me is that it's prompted other people to get check-ups."
Help Kimberley to help Macmillan Cancer Support by donating HERE
