Great-gran from Foulsham raises hundreds for the Big C after shaving her hair off

Pulling it out of the hat - Hazel Saunders, 82, had her hair shaved off for the Big C handing the £700 she raised to Shirley Goldring, deputy manager of the Big C cancer support and information centre at the NNUH. Photo : Steve Adams (Image: Copyright Archant Norfolk 2016)

Hazel Saunders was diagnosed with a fast-growing non Hodgkins lymphoma in March last year and has been undergoing chemotherapy at the Colney Centre, at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Now, despite completing her final chemo session only last month, the 82-year-old had raised £700 for Norwich-based charity the Big C.

She said: 'I want to say a big thank you to all the people who gave money to make this grand total and another thank you to the hospital for what the ENT and the Colney Centre and Weybourne Room have done for me so quickly to get me better.

'Thank you also to my family for taking me to hospital and for doing my shopping.

'I have just got to be patient now until I am better enough to go digging in my polytunnel again.'

She also thanked the listeners of BBC Radio Norfolk, who donated a large amount of her total after she shared her story on the radio.

Back in September family members joined Mrs Saunders at Amies hairdressers in Fakenham's Norwich Street for her head-shave. She has donated the hair to make wigs, along with her granddaughter's hair who also chopped her waist-length locks in support.

Mrs Saunders, who has five daughters, 11 grand children and five great-grandchildren, moved to Foulsham, near Dereham, from her native Hayes, in Middlesex, when she married her late husband Jack, in 1954.

Shirley Goldring, deputy manager at the centre, said: 'We are absolutely thrilled with this donation.'

Are you doing something amazing for charity? Email reporter Donna-Louise Bishop or ring 01603 772568.