A DARLINGTON woman is hoping to raise thousands for charity by shaving her head in memory of her big brother.

Paige Harker’s brother Liam was 17 when he died from a rare form of cancer in 2008.

Since his death, family and friends have raised thousands for Macmillan Cancer Care by organising a number of fundraising events.

Today, Paige shaved off her long hair in a bid to help the charity that nursed her family through the ordeal of losing Liam.

She said: “I was only 13 when he died and I remember that his hair was a big deal to him and when it came to the point of him losing it through chemotherapy, it was hard for him.

“I’ve been absolutely petrified of doing this as I love my hair but I’m just shaving it without battling cancer and I think he’d have been very proud to see how much we’ve been raising.”

She added: “Liam wanted to die at home with his family around him and the Macmillan nurses organised it then supported the family throughout.

“It was really hard for my mum and they supported her constantly, which means a lot – they deserve something good.”

Ms Harker had her drastic haircut at Dapper Barbers on North Road in Darlington, where barber Darrel Johnson also shaved his head.

The pair hope to raise more than £1,500 and Ms Harker has pledged to donate her shorn locks to make wigs for cancer sufferers.

To support the fundraising effort, visit justgiving.com/paige-harker