A BRAVE grandmother has taken matters into her own hands last week, allowing a Redditch salon to shave her head before starting chemotherapy to help fight her grade three breast cancer.
When Susan Keaney was initially diagnosed doctors thought they had caught the cancer early.
But another biopsy found the cells were more aggressive than they first thought and Susan was told she would need three different types of chemo to fight it.
Unfortunately the chemo will make Susan’s hair fall out extremely quickly so the 56-year-old decided to show the disease that she would not be beaten.
“Doctors told me I would lose my hair the very next day,” Susan said. “I will not allow it to take control or destroy my life – I want to laugh in its face – and I will not allow it to take my hair.”
After reading online that a Toni & Guy salon in another part of the county was involved in fund-raising for Macmillan Cancer Support, Susan approached the town’s salon in Evesham Walk where Steve Hurley, art director and franchisee, kindly offered his services.
“He is such an amazing person,” Susan added. “He said right away to come in with my family and friends and he would shave my hair.”
Susan arrived at the salon at 6pm on December 16 with her loved ones – some of whom came from as far away as Devon and Exeter to support her in her brave decision.
And she wasn’t alone facing Steve’s clippers – sister Christine and Susan’s nephew had their own heads shaved along with 17-year-old Georgia Newan, an assistant at the salon, who wanted to support Susan in a cause very close to her heart.
“It was very emotional,” said Steve. “But a real privilege to be able to cut Susan’s hair – I’m still blown away.”
Susan has now raised £1,375 on her Just Giving page, £301 from the event at Toni & Guy, £150 from donations at granddaughter’s school, Tudor Grange, and £100 in cash from her work colleagues.
Visit https://www.justgiving.com/Susan-Keaney2/ to support Susan and donate.
