TWO sisters who have battled breast cancer have deliberately lost their hair so that other patients might not have to.

Maria Elliott, aged 52, and Lisa McCandles, aged 48, have both shaved their heads in support of their 39-year-old friend Sherine Hampshire, who has recently been diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.

Sherine has launched a £40,000 fund-raising campaign to help buy cold caps for hospital chemo wards. The caps may help to prevent hair loss by narrowing the blood vessels beneath the skin of the scalp to reduce the amount of chemotherapy medicine that reaches the hair follicles.

Maria and Lisa, who are from Rawdon, held their fundraising head shave party in Rawdon on Sunday watched by 80 guests, who also took part in other fundraising activities on the same day to swell the sisters’ cancer fund coffers.

Their event was the first of a series of events arranged by Sherine.

Maria said: “We want everyone who has cancer treatment to have the choice of using one of these state of the art ‘cooling caps’ to help them keep their hair after chemo.

“I met Sherine in 2015 during my own treatment and unfortunately she is now battling chemotherapy again for secondary cancer in her spine, liver and lung.

“Whilst having chemotherapy, she noticed that some patients had to wait a long time or give up the chance to save their hair due to insufficient Paxman cold cap machines.”

Maria added: “The day was a fabulous success raising a staggering £3,500.

“Lisa and I were nervous and excited in equal measure and are embracing our new bald look as a mark of support to our fabulous friend, Sherine, and her fantastic Cold Cap Campaign which aims to ensure that all those having chemo can access a cold cap to help them keep their hair .

“A total of £40,000 is indeed a tall order but we have now proved we can pack a punch and are ready to relish the next challenge.”