She has had a lung removed due to cancer and is continuing to battle the disease. But that did not stop Angie Bailey from smiling as her friends shaved their heads to raise money for charity.
As Mrs Bailey bravely faced up to chemotherapy and the prospect of losing her hair, colleagues wanted to support her by losing their hair too.
Mrs Bailey, 54, said she was lucky her hair 'only thinned during chemo' as she watched her three friends at The Depperhaugh Nursing Home, in Hoxne, near Eye, brave the shave to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support.
Nurse Christine Dinnage, 58, and support workers Claire Bardsley, 42, and Karen Nunn, 50, cast nervous looks in the lounge mirror as their hair disappeared. They were applauded when they showed off their new bald looks.
Maxine Smith, manager at the Kingsley Healthcare-run home, joined hairdressers Donna Taylor and Marie Moss in wielding the clippers in front of an audience of residents, family members and staff.
Mrs Bailey, from Redlingfield, who has worked at The Depperhaugh for 23 years, said: 'The girls are quite amazing doing this to support me.
'Because we have all worked together for so long, there is a lovely family atmosphere at the home.'
After being diagnosed with lung cancer in mid-July, she underwent an operation to remove her left lung before undergoing chemotherapy in September.
She now faces a course of radiotherapy but is optimistic about making a full recovery, as the cancer has not spread.
Mrs Dinnage said: 'I have worked with Angie for more than 20 years. When she broke the news, I told her: 'If you are going to lose your hair, I'll lose mine with you.' We cried on each other's shoulders.'
Following the head shave, Miss Smith told the audience: 'All this was done to support Angie and I think the inspiration and friendship is just wonderful.'
The trio hope to have raised more than £1,000 for the cancer charity.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here