A HOSPITAL manager from Ramsbottom has braved the shave to raise money for charity.

Lynne Maeer decided that she would shave her head to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.

The 50-year-old took up the challenge after losing close friends to the disease and has so far raised more than £1,000.

Lynne said: "Over the last few years I have lost family and friends to the 'Big C.'

"My brother-in-law for 34 years, Stephen Puttergill, passed away in 2012 after an 18-month battle with several cancers.

"And only last month a friend of almost 20 years, Christine Graham, passed away due to pancreatic cancer."

It took just 15 minutes for hairdresser Linda Kipps to chop off Lynne's locks.

Speaking about how it felt to have no hair, she commented: "It's cold!"

She added: "People suffering from cancer can go through hair loss and changes to their appearance and I wanted to show my support for the tough battle cancer sufferers face every day."

Lynne, who works as a Divisional Project Support Manager for East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "This is something that I could do, to stand up and be counted.”

To sponsor her visit www.bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/lynne-maeer/

Also braving the shave recently was Steve O'Brien from Tottington.

The 52-year-old decided to get involved because his best friend's mum died from the disease.

He explained: "Luckily I haven't had anyone that close to me die from cancer but every time you look in the news it seems to be affecting someone else so I thought I would do something to raise money for it.

"I have never had a shaved head before, I was going to do it last year but I didn't have the bottle to go through with it."

Steve, of Victoria Street, went ahead with the shave last week at his local pub The Dungeon Inn, in front of what he described as a "baying mob."

He said: "It's a very strange feeling not having any hair. When I first saw myself I thought I looked like a prisoner of war.

"Winter is only around the corner so I will definitely be growing it back."

Brave The Shave is a campaign by Macmillan that is encouraging people to stand alongside men, women and children with cancer by shaving their heads.

So far this year over 20,000 people have taken part raising over £2m.