Hair we go for Macmillan Cancer Support - The Leamington Observer

Hair we go for Macmillan Cancer Support

Leamington Editorial 17th Mar, 2015 Updated: 28th Oct, 2016   0

TWO brave women took a ‘bald’ step to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Grandmother Ruby Broomfield and her colleague Dr Maeve Chappell, who both work for National Grid in Warwick, had their heads shaved to raise funds to help people living with cancer heat their homes.

Hairdresser Charlotte Passey from Leamington assisted with the close shave at the company’s Warwick Technology Park headquarters in front of over 3,000 colleagues.

Both women have individual motivations for wanting to do the challenge.




Ruby said: “I’m very aware that I’m right in the high-risk demographic for cancer. Five in ten people in my age bracket are currently living with cancer. Six of my friends have battled with cancer, many of our National Grid colleagues are living with cancer, so I’m very aware of the significance of the hair loss – especially for women.

“But this isn’t about trying to show solidarity with those women – how could we? Our hair will grow back, we don’t have a life-threatening illness. But we felt we needed to do something and it needed to not only raise a lot of money but also be symbolic.”


Maeve agreed, saying they wanted to do something big to raise funds.

She added: “We want people to ask us why two ‘mature’ ladies are having all their hair shaved off. This event is stimulating some great conversations about cancer and the emotional and physical challenges that brings.

“We’re an energy company and people undergoing treatment often feel the cold more, are at home more and therefore use more power to heat their homes. There’s a cost implication to this and that is where the grants we’re raising money for come in.”

National Grid employees are hoping to raise £500,000 over two years for Macmillan and have so far raised just under £300,000. Ruby and Maeve are £3,000 off their £8,000 target which National Grid as a company has promised to match pound-for-pound.

Visit https://www.justgiving.com/National-Grid-DaretoBare-Headshave-Challenge-2015 to support Maeve and Ruby’s fund-raising.

The pair were all smiles after their close shave. (s)

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