Coalisland mum to '˜Brave the Shave' for Macmillan after losing her husband to cancer

Gaye Bullock, who will be joined in the fundraising effort by her sons and brother, said it was no big deal to say goodbye to her hair - compared with the pain her husband Anthony suffered throughout his illness.

A chef at the Gables, Anthony had never smoked or drank but was tragically died from Colon cancer in 2012, aged just 53.

One of his son’s, Daryl, who was just 13 at the time will join his big brother Mark, 22, and uncle Martin Armstrong in supporting Gaye - by saying goodbye to their luscious locks too.

The Bullock family before Anthony sadly died

All four are to sit in the hairdressers chair, which will be specially set up in the Venue, Coalisland, tonight from 8.30pm.

“When I said I was going to do it, they didn’t want me to do it on my own,” Gaye, which is short for Gabrielle explained.

“They said we’ll do it too mummy, so there’s four of us doing it.”

And it’s all to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support in thanks for the support, Beth - the nurse who cared for Anthony - gave their family during that terrible time.

“I lost my husband and the kids lost their dad four years ago,” the 50-year-old added. “Macmillan were brilliant and it’s a worthy cause.

“My hair will grow back,” Gaye added.

“I thought, if they (cancer sufferers) can go through what they go through, I can shave my head. It’ll grow back.

“I have seen it first hand, I’ve been there, so have my kids. We nursed Anthony and it’s the least I can do.

“Even (if) it doesn’t grow back, my cousin up the road who has cancer too, says ‘I have a wig’.

“The Macmillan nurses are amazing. Our nurse was called Beth and from day one all we had to do was ring if we needed something. If Anthony needed medication or was sick.”

Keen to help others get the support her family did, Gaye added: “There’s very few families these days that haven’t been touched by cancer. Every other day there’s somebody else - it’s crazy.

“They blame smoking, they blame drinking - Anthony never smoked or drank. He was a chef and worked in the Gables for years, but he never smoked or drank.”

So far the family has raised around £1,000 between them, but if you want to help them gather more for Macmillan, check out Gaye’s Brave the Shave event page on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/299015390459482/