Jaime to shave her long locks to show support to cancer patients

Jaime McAlary, who is about to sit her A level examinations at Loreto College, is also about to take on a huge challenge. The brave teenager will be shaving her head to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Speaking to The Times last week, Jamie explained: “I’ve been contemplating the idea of shaving my head for cancer since January.

“The more I thought about it, the more I thought that such dramatic actions would inspire people to give to Cancer Research UK by sponsoring me.

“Hair loss is one of the side effects of undergoing chemotherapy, and for many it is a traumatic experience. Therefore, I have decided to go ahead with shaving my hair, on Saturday May 25.

“People from in and around the area are welcome to come to Ballerin to watch the deed being carried out.”

Jamie is planning to have the whole event filmed and she will post it on her Just Giving page

The brave teenager has persuaded her local hairdresser to help her to complete this challenge, and has set up a Just Giving page so that people can donate online.

She has set a target of £2,500, and will update her Just Giving page every day so that those who sponsor her can see how well she’s doing. Her page can be found at: http://www.justgiving.com/JaimeMcAlary1022

Jaime added: ‘If you’re wondering why it is that I’m doing something so drastic, it’s mainly because of the respect that I have for cancer patients, because they fight so hard to beat the disease.

“Cancer patients who undergo chemotherapy do lose their hair, and for some people, it can be a very traumatic thing. For that reason, I won’t wear a wig when I have had my head shaved, because I want to show my support: so I think wearing a wig would defeat the purpose.”

Jaime is known among her classmates, friends and family for her dark, waist-length hair. Everyone who knows this bright, engaging student has great respect for the challenge she has set herself.

Anyone who wishes to sponsor Jaime should go to her Just Giving page and help her in her support of patients battling cancer, and medics carrying out research to support them as effectively as they can.