Northamptonshire vet hospital team members Brave the Shave for cancer charity
IT was a case of hair today, gone tomorrow for two caring colleagues at a Northamptonshire veterinary practice when they shaved their heads to raise money for charity.
Nicola Case, deputy head nurse at Northlands Veterinary Hospital and administrator Karen Maynard, have raised £1,100 for Macmillan Cancer Support by signing up for its Brave the Shave challenge and having extreme haircuts. The initiative encourages people to shave their heads to raise money to help the charity support people who are living with cancer.
The clippers were wielded by Nicola and Karen’s colleagues in the nursing team at the veterinary hospital in Station Road, Kettering, which is part of VetPartners, one of the most respected veterinary groups with practices and animal healthcare businesses across the UK and Europe.
It is the second time Nicola has Braved the Shave to thank Macmillan for the support the charity gave to her mum, Deborah, when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2013. Luckily, Deborah’s cancer responded to treatment and after surgery and radiotherapy she was given the all-clear two years later.
Nicola said: “Macmillan is an amazing charity and as soon as you get a diagnosis, its team is there for you, helping you understand what’s happening and letting you know what support is available.
“When we got to the five-year anniversary of Mum being given the all-clear, I said that I would shave my hair off to celebrate and raise money for Macmillan. We were planning to hold a big charity event for the occasion, but then Covid struck and I ended up shaving my hair at home and streaming it live on social media.
“Being without hair left my head feeling really cold and I even had to wear a hat in bed, so I vowed I would never do it again – especially in winter! However, jump forward four and half years and I felt it was something I wanted to do to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of mum receiving her good news.
“I’m sure my friends, family and work colleagues all think I am crazy but I think the new haircut suits me. My colleagues have been amazing and as well as donating to Macmillan, they have gifted me hats to wear, to keep me warm at work.”
Nicola has also donated her long locks – which hadn’t been cut since her head was shaved previously – to The Little Princess Trust, which funds research into childhood cancers and makes wigs from donated hair.
When she heard her colleague was Braving the Shave, Karen volunteered to join her, in memory of friends and family who have been affected by cancer.
Karen said: “Unfortunately, I have seen many friends and family battle with cancer, some with good outcomes but others that have not been so good. My mum’s partner, George, sadly died from cancer three years ago and Macmillan was amazing because it helped provide us with residential care so that he could have dignity in his final days.
“Shaving my head is just a small thing I can do to show my appreciation, and I’m really pleased how generous people have been with their donations.”
Nicola and Karen’s are still accepting donations for Macmillan, which can be made at Northlands Veterinary Hospital or through their fundraising pages - Nicola’s can be found here and Karen’s here.
Northlands Veterinary Group has been providing high levels of care to local pets for more than 60 years and has a 24-hour veterinary hospital in Kettering, branch surgeries in Northampton, Rushden, Raunds and Corby and a Cat and Rabbit Care Clinic in Northampton.