IT WAS a bald statement that a mother-of-two wanted to make to help raise money for charity.

After battling and winning her fight against breast cancer, Liza Nightingale wanted to make a difference by raising awareness and funds for Ark Cancer Centre Charity.

Her way of doing this was to make a very visible show of support by losing her lovely locks at a sponsored head shave.

On Saturday, January 14, Mrs Nightingale, who works at the Candover Clinic at Basingstoke hospital, was in front of a crowd of family and friends when the first strands of her hair were snipped off.

Before she said goodbye to her long locks, the 49-year-old said: “I have been thinking of doing a charity event to give something back after receiving amazing care from my consultant and the breast care team at Basingstoke hospital – so I decided to have all my hair shaved off to raise money for Ark which is helping to fund the new cancer treatment centre.

“The point is I have a choice to shave my hair off but people going through treatment do not.”

There was a real party atmosphere at the Candover Clinic, when the Pheasant Close resident allowed Phil Robbins, from Arc Hairdressing in Basingstoke, loose with his scissors to give the mother-of-two her bald new look.

As well as the head shave, the sale of cakes and raffle prizes in the run-up helped, Mrs Nightingale smash her initial target of £2,500, managing to raise £4,100 for the charity.

She added: “I am delighted that the original fundraising target has been smashed, that I have succeeded in raising awareness of the charity, and I have got to have a little party with all of you lovely people too. “My hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for children and adults so that it is another great result from this fundraising event.”

Ark Cancer Centre Charity trustee Merv Rees was among the many people who turned up to support Liza, who works on reception at the Candover Clinic and is involved in arranging private patient bookings in the radiology department.

Mr Rees said: “I am very grateful to Liza.”

You can still support Mrs Nightingale’s efforts by visiting justgiving.com/fundraising/Liza-Nightingale.