FOR many people, their hair is part of their identity — but that didn’t stop a brave Tavistock woman having her hair shaved off in support of a children’s cancer charity.

Horrabridge Primary School teacher Ali Mansfield had her shoulder-length locks cut off today (June 2) while surrounded by friends and family at Sisters Hair Salon; all to raise money for CLIC Sargent, a charity which helps children suffering from cancer and their families.

She completed the fundraiser in support of Zara Hemmings, the 15 year old cousin of Ali‘s friend Sarah Mcgowan, who cut off Ali’s hair. Zara has said she’s worried about what she will look like with no hair, so Ali decided to cut her own hair off in support of Zara.

In just four weeks of fundraising, Ali has managed to raise nearly £3,000 for the charity.

Ali said: ‘Whether the money raised will be used to give a terminal child a chance to have a special time or holiday with their family, or help children to recover from their illness, I would like to give families with young children the hope to continue to fight their battles and carry on to win.

‘I am not afraid of having my head shaved, nor what people will think or how I will look. 

‘Children have asked me if I’ll wear a wig, what people will think of me with no hair, if I’m afraid of being bald or if I’m going to cover my head. My reply to these children was that “We are all beautiful but our real beauty isn’t something we put on the outside of our bodies. We are most beautiful when our hearts are loving others. Our beauty comes from within is.”

‘I hope my act will help to empower young children, especially our girls, to be brave about the way they look, to help them be confident in their own skin and be proud of who they are. I hope it will also show our future generations that anyone can make a difference in someone’s life. All it needs is a little bravery and determination.’

After the haircut was finished, Ali said she felt liberated and a weight had been taken off her shoulders.

As well as raising all that money for CLIC Sargent, Ali will also donate the hair she had cut off to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that provides wigs and hair pieces for children who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatment.