Felixstowe fundraiser’s brave the shave campaign helps to raise £5,000 for charity

Beth Manister has braved the shave in name of charity. Picture Beth Manister (Image: Archant)

Beth Manister, 45 and from Felixstowe, has raised over £5,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support in the past few weeks through shaving her own and others’ heads.

Beth was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in September this year and immediately started chemotherapy.

She was warned by her doctors that her hair would quickly fall out during the process and so, after adopting a crop cut for a while, Beth decided that she would shave it all off.

After being asked by a friend if she would like to do the shave for charity Beth decided to set up a crowdfunding page so that her family and close friends would be able to donate.

Her initial target was £150, though this quickly grew as people’s generosity did. “The response has been phenomenal,” she said. “I am totally blown away.”

Beth’s brother, David, was the first person to offer to brave the shave with her, stating that he would keep shaving his head whilst she had no hair.

Since then more and more people have offered to do the same, becoming part of what Beth fondly calls ‘Club Baldy’.

The club now has 21 members but as the donations keep hitting higher targets, more of Beth’s friends are getting involved.

“It’s just such a wonderful feeling to know that people are pulling together,” she said.

Beth believes the success of her campaign comes from it being shared on social media, particularly as more people decide to join the club.

The kindness of anonymous donors and complete strangers towards her work initially surprised Beth, but she now believes she understands why so many people have got involved. “I think it’s because we all know someone who has been affected by cancer,” she said.

Beth said she understood that feeling all too well, having lost her mum to cancer in 2015. “Watching my mum go through cancer...she was so positive she was such an inspiration,” she said.

Like her mum, Beth remains positive about her situation and takes strength from the report she has received.

“I am not going to let it rule my life and get me down,” she added. “I am going to do everything I possibly can.”

To find out more about Beth’s campaign visit: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/beth-manister