A Suffolk woman with a ‘no half measures’ approach to fundraising has amassed a remarkable sum after having her locks lopped off in the name of charity.

East Anglian Daily Times: Anne Henderson before she braved the shave for charityAnne Henderson before she braved the shave for charity (Image: Archant)

Anne Henderson has so far collected almost £20,000 for the Woolverstone Macmillan Centre appeal at Ipswich Hospital.

The 64-year-old, from Bredfield, near Woodbridge, learned about Macmillan’s Brave the Shave campaign via email, before friends in the village’s Castle Inn encouraged her to adopt a buzz cut for the cause.

“I thought ‘gosh, what an interesting idea’ – so I let it germinate for 24 hours and mentioned it to friends in the pub”, said Ms Henderson.

“Sarah, the landlady, said ‘well, what date are we doing it?’ – and so it was decided.”

The former casting director whose credits include Poirot, A Very British Coup, Taggart and the original House of Cards, also held an auction of items including autographed posters of James McAvoy and a signed picture of James Corden. The varied selection of lots also included two tonnes of pig muck, a signed Ipswich Town shirt and lunch in the boardroom at Portman Road with Ms Henderson and the club’s managing director, Ian Milne, before an upcoming home fixture against Huddersfield.

With proceeds from the auction, as well as sponsorship for the head shave, Ms Henderson has raised almost £20,000 towards a new multimillion pound cancer centre, due to open at Ipswich Hospital next year.

Helen Glenholmes, Macmillan fundraising manager, told her that all the money could go to the cause, and that £10,000 could potentially help furnish a six bed treatment bay, while £15,000 could cover the complete building, fixture and fitting costs of one waiting area on the ward, and an ambitious £20,000 could cover the building work for a chemotherapy treatment base for nurses.

Ms Henderson said: “Everyone has been affected by cancer in some way. My grandfather, father and one of my best friends died from it.

“Since I said I was doing the head shave, one friend has begun treatment for prostate cancer, and another for cervical cancer. I also know others in hospital for chemotherapy or operations.”

To sponsor Ms Henderson, visit bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/anne-henderson.