Braving the shave!

 My name's Maria Elliott and me and my sister Lisa McCandless are Braving the Shave and losing our locks to help patients keep their hair after chemo! We are braving the shave as part of a mammoth appeal to raise £40,000 to fund new chemotherapy ‘cold caps’ for a cancer unit. We want everyone who has cancer treatment to have the choice of using one of these state of the art ‘cooling caps’ to help them keep their hair after chemo. In 2015, I had the pleasure of meeting my lovely friend Sherine Hampshire when we were both being treated for breast cancer - we bonded in no time and whilst we have been through highs and lows together, we have always tried to put the needs of others first. From bucket shaking at events in the cold of winter to fundraising tea parties and bake-off coffee mornings, we have always focused on ‘giving something back.’ But this is a brand new challenge. Sherine is now battling chemotherapy again for secondary cancer in her spine, liver and lung. Whilst having treatment in Pinderfields she noticed the distress of other patients who had to wait or give up the chance to save their hair with the Paxman cold cap machines. Tragically some even feel so bad about losing their hair after not having the chance to use the caps to save their hair, that they refuse chemotherapy completely which is so wrong. If everyone has the choice to use a ‘cold cap’ this will happen much less. Along with some of her closest friends, I am helping Sherine realise her dream of ensuring that everyone in her chemo ward has the chance to use a cold cap. We want to supply 4 more 4 dual scalp cooling Paxman machines to Pinderfields Hospital. We hope to do this over the next 12 months with lots of different challenges and activities to raise these invaluable funds. Technology continues to improve apace, so much that these incredible machines can help save someone a hardship or heartache when the cancer journey is tough enough. The first of these events is a ‘tea party head shave’ on Sunday 4th August 12.30 to 3.30pm where I will be braving the shave and losing my lovely locks myself!! This activity serves to underline that I have a choice but sadly, many currently do not. Please help us in our quest! Please can I ask you to share this appeal and pass this on to make it happen. Sherine and I then plan to grow our hair together and have a competition as to whose hair grows back the most grey!!! For more information on Paxman scald cooling systems you can visit the website on the link below! https://paxmanscalpcooling.com/scalp-cooling