Family braves the shave to support mother-in-law through breast cancer treatment

After being diagnosed with stage three breast cancer during lockdown, Sue Partridge from Southsea has been boosted by support from her loving family - with her four sons-in-law determined to show their dedication by chopping off their locks.

Josh Carroll-Smith, who is engaged to Cara, one of Sue’s five daughters, enlisted Michael Cork, Ben Wall and Andy Trevithick to join him in a show of support and solidarity after Sue lost her hair from treatment.

On the day, they were joined by Josh’s dad, Sue’s husband and Andy’s two sons who all joined in with the effort, so far raising more than £2,600 for Breast Cancer Research Aid.

Josh, who runs The Library Barbers in Southsea, said: ‘It’s given Sue a little bit of a spur and a boost and it was good fun.

‘When someone’s going through something like this the one thing you want to do is take it away but we can’t do that so if there’s any way we can do something, we will.’

The 32-year-old added: ‘I’ve been in the hairdressing industry for 16 years now so I know the joy and confidence you can achieve getting your hair done. To have that taken away unwillingly seems incredibly unfair.’

Brother-in-law Ben said he feels ‘honoured’ to be part of the fundraiser to support Sue, adding: ‘My dad got diagnosed with prostate cancer 10 years ago and that was very upsetting and hard to digest, now knowing a second person very close to my heart has been diagnosed with breast cancer has made me realise how important it is to raise awareness.’

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Josh and the group want to raise even more money towards the cause, and so are putting on a raffle which people can enter by giving a minimum £5 donation on the page.

Prizes have been donated from businesses across the area, with plenty up for grabs including a £50 Parade Tea Rooms voucher, bottomless prosecco for two at The Gaiety Bar and two Goodwood tickets.

Visit gofundme.com/f/shaving-my-head-for-breast-cancer-research to donate and join in with the raffle.

A message from the Editor, Mark Waldron

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