Woman's 40th birthday head shave boosts Keith Cancer Link
A GRANGE woman marked her 40th birthday this month by shedding her long locks to boost a Keith charity close to her heart.
Lynne Cameron handed over a cheque for £2600 to Keith Cancer Link at the weekend.
The childminder had purposefully grown her hair long, to about 19 inches, for the head shave on June 2 as a way to thank the local group for the invaluable help it provided for her dad, Keith man William Mackie (63), when he was diagnosed with cancer two years ago.
Keith Cancer Link, based at the Resource Centre on Mid Street, offers a transport service to and from appointments.
This helped the family enormously, both practically and emotionally, to cope with the gruelling round of specialist appointments and treatments, check-ups, operations and scans that follow a cancer diagnosis.
Friends and family gathered in Lynne's garden to support her birthday charity effort.
Lynne said: "My dad fought cancer before the pandemic two years ago.
"Keith Cancer Link played a huge part in my dad's treatment. They were amazing. The transport service saved me taking days off as a childminder. I had taken quite a few days off before we heard about Keith Cancer Link.
"It is a fantastic resource for people at their lowest. I knew that my dad was going to get there safe, my mum was with him, and they would get back home.
"They wait with you, talk with you, support you. They are so reliable and even just a friendly smile on that daily journey just when you need it was brilliant.
"They were such a massive help to us.
"It made a horrendous few years more manageable and a lot less stressful."
She added: "We all said that once dad had fought this and got to the other side, we wanted to give something back.
"We've done various things to raise money for them – a big Lucky Squares and a raffle – but with the pandemic the head shave plan was held back numerous times.
"I eventually thought that I would just do it on my 40th birthday."
A second charity, the Little Princess Trust, has benefited too from the donation of Lynne's hair. The charity provides real hair wigs to children and young people who have lost their hair as a result of cancer treatment or other illnesses.
Lynne's seven-year-old daughter, Eliana, a Crossroads Primary School pupil, has boosted the total further by running Guess the Teddy's Birthday and Guess the Number of Sweeties in the Jar contests to earn her Brownies charity badge.
Along with her big sister, Sophie, Eliana previously helped to raise £1500 for Keith Cancer Link after the loss of her granny a few years ago.
People can still donate to Lynne's JustGiving fundraiser for Keith Cancer Link.