A CHARITY effort has raised hundreds of pounds in memory of a woman who passed away after battling cancer three times.

Nicola Rogers, 39, from Popley, braved the shave and said goodbye to her hair on Friday, 27 October after her head was shaved at Oliver Paul’s hair salon, in Soper Grove.

The head shave was completed following the death of Joan Warner in April, the mother of the salon’s owner Angela Walsh-Taylor, also 39.

Nicola said: “I really wanted to do something that had an impact after Joan died in April.

“At first, I was really nervous about it, but cancer sufferers lose their hair all the time, and they don’t get a choice, so it doesn’t seem like such a big deal for me.”

Joan Warner was 69 when she died.

She endured three lengthy battles with breast cancer, bowel cancer and then cancer of the blood.

Nicola and Angela described her as a ‘lovely woman’ that was ‘very kind’ while Nicola added that Joan was always there when she was growing up and was like a second mother to her.

Nicola has been collecting money for Macmillan Cancer Support using Brave the Shave collection pots and also through the charity’s website.

So far, she has raised £600 just from the online donations.

Nicola added: “The support from people has been amazing, I work in Sainsbury’s café and I have a collection pot there.

“Customers have donated and have come up to me to say how brave I am, but it’s just hair at the end of the day it will grow back but the money I can raise for the charity can help.”

Her hair was shaved by Sophie Watson, 17, from Oakridge, who works at the salon. It was shaved right down to the lowest grade of 0.5.

Nicola also broadcasted her efforts over a Facebook live stream which was watched by friends and family.

About cutting the hair Sophie said: “I was really nervous, I was shaking, I felt as though it was me shaving my head, I’m so proud of Nicola.”

Donations can still be made on Nicola’s Brave the Shave webpage at bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/nicola-rogers.