A SUPERMARKET worker shaved their head and raised more than £2,000 for charity to support those suffering from cancer, after previously fighting off the disease herself.
Nikola Bevan raised £2,528 online after her hair was shaved at Tesco in Warfield, Bracknell, on Saturday for Cancer Research UK, as part of the national supermarket’s annual three-day fundraiser for the charity.
Ms Bevan was motivated after previously having cancer and losing friends and family to the disease.
She said: “I’ve lost my hair twice, and then I didn’t have an option, it fell out and there was nothing I could do.
"This time I have an option, so it’s my way of supporting all those people that are going through treatment, or family members and friends that have seen loved ones going through treatment as well.
“It can be hard, and it can be quite shocking. I think if you ask any female, the most traumatic thing to happen is have your hair fall out. But to me, it’s not going to be traumatic because it’s my choice this time.”
Around 680 cancer cases, and 260 cancer deaths have been recorded by NHS East Berkshire each year, and 91 percent of patients receive their first cancer treatment within 62 days of a GP referral. The national target is 85 percent.
Jenny Makin, spokesperson for Cancer Research UK in Berkshire, said: “We are always in awe of Cancer Research UK’s fundraisers who go the extra mile to help support our vital work.
“Nikola sadly knows only too well the impact and devastation that cancer can cause and we can’t thank her enough for braving the shave to raise even more money to fund our lifesaving research.”
The supermarket chain’s fundraiser, Tesco Turns Pink, had events including bucket collections, and staff sponsorships from Friday to Sunday last week.
Oonagh Turnbull, Head of Health Campaigns at Tesco, said: “Tesco Turns Pink is one of the highlights of the year in our stores. It will be slightly different this year because of coronavirus restrictions in place in our stores, but we know that the support of our customers and colleagues in raising vital funds for this great cause will be undeterred.”
Tesco has a 20-year partnership with Cancer Research UK’s Race For Life. Tesco said over 20,000 employees take part annually, and ‘colleagues and customers have raised millions’.
Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK’s chief executive said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Tesco for their support over the last 20 years. To keep making progress for people affected by cancer, we still need help today. We’re absolutely determined to continue our vital work to save more lives, but we can’t do it alone. Every step we take towards beating cancer relies on our brilliant supporters.”
To support Nikola Bevan, visit her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/nikola-bracknell, and for more information on Cancer Research, visit www.cancerresearchuk.org.
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