A GRANDMOTHER had a close shave to help raise money for a cause close to her heart.

Anne O'Donnell decided to shave her hair off to raise vital funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care in memory of her mother, Margaret, who lost her life to cancer nine years ago.

The 55-year-old, from Darlington, also donated her hair to The Little Princess Trust, which provides real hair wigs to children suffering from hair loss due to cancer treatments and other illnesses, such as alopecia.

Ms O’Donnell, a grandmother-of-eight, went under the scissors of hairdresser Ann-Marie Davies at a fundraising afternoon at The Deacon pub, in Cleasby View, Cockerton.

Her sister Brenda said: “She held it on mum’s birthday in her memory. It was a really good day.

“She donated her hair in memory of our sister who also died from cancer. She wanted a positive to come from a negative.”

So far, Ms O’Donnell has raied £815 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. To donate visit justgiving.com/anne-o-donnell