A GRAYS woman is about to lose her long head of hair for a cause close to her heart.

Karla 'Kaz' Frater, 50, will be having her head shaved at an event at the St Thomas of Canterbury Church Social Club in Grays, where she is the bar manager.

She is doing it after being inspired by a film of a young cancer sufferer and as a tribute to her partner Alwyn, known to many simply as Huggie, who died 13 years ago from pancreatic cancer.

During his illness and after his death Kaz and the seven children they looked after together were comforted and cared for by the Macmillan Cancer Support charity and she says she has never forgotten the difference they made through very traumatic times.

She told Nub News: "I promised them at the time I would do something in return for them. Recently I watched a video featuring a young girl with cancer who lost all her hair through cancer treatment. She was so brave and inspirational!

"The video was about Macmillan's 'Brave the Shave' fundraiser and I thought that would be my opportunity to do something in return for all the kindness shown to me, Huggie and the kids.

"It's 13 years since I lost my Huggie bear so, on 14 November, my hair's coming off so I can finally fulfil my promise. Fortunately for me, it will grow back. I hope that doing it will help raise some money for the charity and their wonderful nurses and helpers. Macmillan is simply amazing.

"I hope people will support me and donate to the Macmillan team who support the loved ones left behind. I've set up a fundraising page for donations and lots of people at the club have already made cash donations.

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"I'm looking forward to the event. It will be a party night and I'm so pleased that my Huggie will be remembered at such a happy event."

If you would like to make an online donation you can do so via this link.