What do all of these people have in common?

Cancer turned their lives upside down, but now they are facing it head on

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A cancer diagnosis can change your life in a single moment. This August, a group of people who know this only too well have come together to Brave the Shave and raise vital funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Their shaves have been documented in a moving photo series, each one with a powerful personal story to tell.

Please ask the press team for images. Their moving stories are captured below.

Mike was devastated when his one-year-old daughter was diagnosed with cancer

Mike and his daughter Elsie before he took part in Brave the Shave

35-year-old Mike Walker took part in the fundraiser after his 18-month-old daughter Elsie was diagnosed with Pylomixoid Astrocytoma, a rare type of brain tumour, in April 2019 — just months after her first birthday. Elsie has already been through four operations on her brain, including a gruelling 13-hour stint in theatre to remove the main tumour. She will continue to have two types of chemotherapy for at least the next year and a half.

Mike says, “Finding out Elsie has cancer was the most devastating experience of our lives. Everything changes. You know life will never be the same again. All the healthcare professionals have been amazingly supportive, and we feel safe knowing Elsie is being looked after by such an incredible team. It’s all brought together by our Macmillan Nurse Ella, who is helping us navigate a system we never knew we would be a part of.”

Mike and Elsie after his shave

Trainee vicar Julie chose to celebrate her remission from breast cancer by shaving her head

Julie and her three children before the shave

Julie Swinton, 52, from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, signed-up for the sponsored head-shave earlier this year after receiving the news that she is in remission from breast cancer. The mum-of-three, who is currently training to be a Church of England vicar, was diagnosed in September 2018 after attending a routine mammogram. Julie was supported by a Macmillan nurse and received a grant from the charity to help towards the cost of travelling back and forth to hospital for treatment.

Julie says, “Once I was completely better I decided to Brave the Shave for Macmillan Cancer Support, so they can continue to help other people in similar situations. No one wakes up thinking, “Today’s the day I’m going to get diagnosed with cancer”. It’s a shock. It’s bewildering. Macmillan is there to answer questions, no matter how small they may seem, to listen to worries and fears, and to offer support and guidance. They also helped financially, which we are incredibly grateful for.”

Julie after the shave with her two daughters

Vera heard her two-year old granddaughter was in remission just as she braved the shave

Vera before the shave with best friend Alison

63-year-old Vera Williams, from Maidstone, Kent, heard the news that her granddaughter Lailah was in remission from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia, half an hour before shaving her head to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support. Lailah was diagnosed on 11th June 2019, 17 days before her second birthday, after her symptoms were initially attributed to an ear infection.

Vera and Alison after the shave

Vera says, “Everybody obviously dreads hearing those words “you have cancer”, but when it happens to a young child it is a massive blow for the whole family. It was from my feeling of complete helplessness that I made the decision to Brave the Shave on 26 July. I got the news from my daughter Cara about 20 minutes before my Shave that Lailah was currently in remission! I know there is still a long hard road ahead for Lailah, but I cried so much with joy that I could not speak, and this was in front of a pub garden full of people!”

Nicola’s mum never got to witness her daughters’ biggest milestones

Nicola and sister Clare, who shaved Nicola’s head

Nicola Diamond, 41, from Edinburgh, took part in the shaving event in memory of her mother who died from breast cancer in 2005. Her mum was first diagnosed in 1998. She then lived cancer-free for five years, before receiving a terminal diagnosis in 2004. It meant a lot that Nicola’s sister Clare shaved Nicola’s head, as their bond is incredibly strong. Their mum never got to see either of her daughters get married, or meet any of her grandchildren.

Nicola and sister after the shave

Nicola says, “Our Macmillan nurse Florence came to visit mum for over a year. She provided emotional support for her and the whole family. She made sure mum was comfortable, helping with pain relief, loss of appetite and loss of mobility. My sister, who lived at home throughout mum’s illness, said she felt a real sense of relief when Florence was there. She brought calm and normality to us, and dignity to mum. When my mum lost her hair through chemotherapy, it was worse than the pain and the sickness. I am proud to stand alongside such women and if by doing so I can raise awareness and funds for this marvellous charity I am also honoured.”

You can Brave the Shave for Macmillan, just like Mike, Julie, Vera and Nicola. To sign up or donate to a shaver, visit bravetheshave.org.uk and help Macmillan continue to be right there for people living with cancer.

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For further information, please contact:

Lyndsey White, Media and PR Officer, Macmillan Cancer Support

020 7840 4870 (out of hours 07801 307068)

LyWhite@macmillan.org.uk

About Macmillan Cancer Support

We’re here to help everyone with cancer live life as fully as they can, providing physical, financial and emotional support.

So whatever cancer throws your way, we’re right there with you. For information, support or just someone to talk to, call 0808 808 00 00 or visit macmillan.org.uk

To give, fundraise or volunteer call 0300 1000 200 or visit macmillan.org.uk

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