TWO friends from Dursley have shaved off their long golden locks for the Macmillan cancer support charity.

Lots of people joined the 31-year-olds, Nicola Howarth and Sam Carpenter, for their Brave the Shave fundraising event last week at The Star Inn in Wotton-under-Edge Sam Carpenter, who works at Sainsbury’s as well as raising her two young boys, said: “We had an amazing, fun filled evening on Friday with masses of support and donations.”

Together they have raised upwards of £5000 in donations so far.

“We would like to thank Peter Hickman hairdressers in Dursley for preparing our hair ready for the chop. As well as Lita Ralston from The Star Inn for hosting and supporting our fundraiser, and also our family and friends who have been there, and continue to be there, supporting and encouraging us to be brave,” said Sam.

The friends have both lost friends and family to cancer. Her friend who is a mum three, Nicola, said: “I wanted to support this charity by shaving my head and raising as much money as possible in memory of them.”

Their hair has been sent off to The Little Princess Trust who make wigs for children who have lost their hair through the illness.

To make a donation visit either of their fundraising pages on https://bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/sam-carpenter/ or https://bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/Nic-howarth/.

Sam added: “Seeing our friends and family grieving is heart-breaking. We are not only doing this to raise money and awareness but also to show our loved ones how much we care and how much we are thinking of them and their loss.

“Our families couldn't be more proud and have also been a huge support to us both.”