Janet and Tina Brave the Shave

Janet Hunter and Tina McCready decided to take on the charity challenge in memory of their mothers, who both died after battling cancer.

Tina’s mum Betty McKay passed away in May 2014, and Janet’s mum Annie McIlwaine passed away in June 2016.

The two courageous ladies were joined by family and friends in St Patrick’s Church, Chapel Hill on Saturday night (September 24) as they braved the shave.

Their friend, Heather Carson, read a poem she’d written specially for the occasion to signal the start of the shave.

Clippers at the ready, Rosemary Gibb and her colleague Nicola from R.E. Gibb International Hair relieved Janet and Tina of their lovely locks.

“I braved the shave in memory of my mum and for all my family and friends who are fighting cancer and those in remission,” Janet explained.

“I was nervous about doing it, but we did it for a good cause, and have raised £2,424.75 to date.”

Janet, who is soon to be commissioned as a Lay Reader in St Paul’s, said her mother had received a lot of help from Macmillan nurses in terms of day-to-day care during her cancer battle.

Janet and Tina, who each have three children, say their family and friends have been very supportive of their decision to Brave the Shave.

“They’ve all been very much behind us and supported us. They know we did it for a good cause, even if they do think we are both a bit nuts,” Janet added.

Anyone who would like to make a donation in support of Janet and Tina’s fundraising effort can still do so by logging on to bravetheshave.org.uk and searching for Janet Hunter or Tina McCready.