Gosport mum of five set to raise money for Macmillan by shaving her hair off

Jeanette Thomas, 45, will be shaving her head, alongside three of her sons and colleague, to raise money for Macmillan Cancer support after being diagnosed with breast cancer in July.

The 45-year-old, who works at the Card Factory in Gosport, took herself to the doctors after wanting a check up during the lockdowns but being unsuccessful.

She said: ‘It all kicked off in July. I wanted to see the doctor, but it was during Covid and trying to get an appointment was impossible so I never got anywhere but eventually I walked into the doctors and was referred immediately to the breast clinic and then on July 27, I was confirmed as having breast cancer.

‘I went to let my mum know but she was rushed into hospital that night was not good.’

Jeanette, whose husband is in the Merchant Navy, had to have a mastectomy due to the size of the tumour which had spread to her lymph nodes and was unable to see her husband until after her operation, due to her role.

During her diagnosis, Jeanette’s mum died, making a difficult time even harder as she had to make arrangements for the funeral.

She said: ‘It has been a terrible couple of months. When we found out that I had to have the op but my mum never got to find out because we were both in QA at the same time.

‘She died on the floor below me while I was waiting for the operation but we all just had to get on with things.’

Jeanette will shave off her hair on November 12, just days after she is due to start her first session of chemotherapy, and she has already raised over £200 for Macmillan.

She is hoping to do the hair shaving event outside of her work as they work closely with Macmillan themselves and, she is also trying to get the company to math any donations made.

She said: ‘Every little helps. It is not the amount, it is the thought behind it to me and the fact that people have donated to the cause is enough for me.

‘It is all about raising awareness.’