AN OKEHAMPTON woman is dyeing her hair blue for a week – then having it all shaved off – to raise funds in support of her mum who is undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer.

Jade Oliver-Deacon, who runs The Toy Shop in Red Lion Yard, will be having her shoulder-length hair shaved off to a ‘grade three’ crop to raise funds for FORCE cancer charity.

The deed will be done at The White Hart in Bridestowe on Saturday evening, (November 3) with a friend of Jade’s who is a hairdresser wielding the clippers and Jade is spending this week with blue locks, having had her brown hair dyed this last weekend.

‘I’ve chosen blue because it is the FORCE colour,’ said Jade. ‘My mum is receiving treatment with FORCE in the Cherrybrook Ward at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital and her hair started thinning because of the treatment.

‘I wanted to do something that had a bit of a wow factor and would raise as much money as possible. We had a joke because her hair was actually temporarily stopped falling out, which is fantastic, so it seems like I’m going to have a lot less hair than she does!’

Jade’s mum Gilly, who lives in Thorndon Cross, was diagnosed with cancer back in July.

‘It is pancreatic cancer, which is inoperable, so there is no coming back from that,’ said Jade. ‘A lot of people know my mum in the area and they are supporting me. My customers have sponsored me to do it and people at my son’s primary school.’

‘My aim was to raise £500 in four weeks but I’ll be closer to £1,000 by the time I’ve finished; people’s generosity has been quite incredible really.

‘My hair is very very dark brown and so I’m hoping the blue is going to show through. I’m having a hairdresser who is a very close friend, who lives in Bridestowe, to shave it off for me.’

Jade’s shave takes place at 9.30pm.