The mane attraction
Published: September 15, 2006
GOLDILOCKS Kerry Oliver is having her 30-inch mane chopped off to be made into wigs for young cancer patients.
Kerry hasn’t had more than an inch trimmed off her hair in more than 20 years but, after seven members of her family were struck by cancer, she is saying goodbye to her curls so she can help other victims.
The 31-year-old is hoping to raise at least £600 for Macmillan nurses from the sponsored haircut and her locks will be sent to help those affected by cancer in Sunderland and across the Atlantic.
Kerry, of Town End Farm, said: “I’m really nervous because I have always had long hair.
“But I’ve seen what cancer does to people, several members of mine and my husband’s families have died from it and the Macmillan nurses supported our families enormously.
“We lost three grandads, two aunties, a friend, and my husband’s aunt is recovering from reconstructive surgery after breast cancer.
“I hope I never have to lose anyone else to cancer, but at least if the worst happens, I know I will have raised the money to help them.”
Kerry, a sales assistant at Primark, didn’t want her hair to go to waste and discovered Canadian charity, Locks of Love.
The group makes wigs from lengths of unwanted hair especially for children coping with cancer and alopecia.
Kerry’s hair measures 30 inches from root to tip and, when straight, flows past her hips.
Her family, husband Michael, 31, who works at Barclays call centre, in Doxford Park, and children Eric, 11, and six-year-old Shannon are backing her efforts.
Kerry said: “Everyone thinks I’m mad but they are behind me.
“I just have to keep thinking it’s only hair and it will grow back. I’ll have to try really hard not to cry on the day.”
Kerry is also conquering her fear of hairdressers after a bad experience when she was younger, so choosing the right stylist was a big decision.
She decided to call on an old friend Paul Johnson, of Ramsay and Johnson’s salon.
Paul said: “She’s in safe hands. We are going to go for a short bob with lots of layers because at the moment her hair is one length.”
“We have known each other for 17 years after meeting at a youth club at Sunderland Christian Centre, so I’m pleased she trusts me after all this time.
“When I heard why Kerry was having her hair cut off, I thought she was very brave.”
The big chop is going ahead on Friday, September 29 at the Blandford Street salon to coincide with Macmillan’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning and Kerry’s hair will be packed up and shipped out to Canada.
If anyone would like to sponsor Kerry or make a donation, they can call into Ramsay and Johnson’s where the staff are filling the charity box too.
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