Mum's cancer fight inspires Laura to lose her locks

HER mother’s battle with cancer has helped inspire a Teesdale woman to cut off all her hair at a charity party.

Laura Willis, 31, will snip off her locks at the fundraising bash held in Barnard Castle Cricket Club on Saturday, September 16.

Mrs Willis, who lives in Staindrop and is a familiar face in Barnard Castle, where she works at Number 15 cafe, is organising the event with her husband, Graham, 33.

Her mother, Carol Gordon, has a rare form of non-curable cancer. The fancy dress party, which features live bands and a raffle, will raise money for Macmillan Cancer Care, as well as for Darlington child Mark Hammond, 8, who has a brain tumour.

Mrs Willis said: “Macmillan Cancer Care have helped so much and this is my way of putting something back in. I don’t think I’m being brave by having my hair shaved off – the brave people are those fighting cancer. I’m quite nervous but it’s nice to know I’m doing something for a good cause.”

Mrs Willis’ mum has metastatic medullary thyroid cancer.

“It’s a non-curable and rare form of cancer – this is not genetic and we only know of two other cases in Britain and a few in America.”

Her mother hasn’t been told how long she may live and has been operated on following attacks in the past, Mrs Willis said.

Meanwhile, friends and family of Mark Hammond are raising money to help pay for his treatment, which is not available on the NHS.

Mrs Willis said: “He was first diagnosed in early 2015 aged just six with a highly malignant primary brain tumour. Over that year he had treatments such as radiotherapy and intensive chemotherapy. In February 2016 he was in remission. Then in December that year he re-lapsed and three tumours were discovered on his brain and five, maybe more, on his spine.”

The idea of organising a fundraising party in aid of both causes was an obvious one for Mr and Mrs Willis because of one of their friends has a close connection to little Mark.

“We wanted to do something to link the two,” said Mr Willis who works in the Teesdale Mercury’s studio department. The party is open to all and will be held from 7pm to 12am. Fancy dress is optional but encouraged. There will be four live bands playing from the Cleatlam-based Rock Zone. There will also be a raffle with prizes including restaurant and haircut vouchers. More gifts are being donated. There is no admission charge to the evening – instead collection buckets will be available for people to donate money. Sponsorship forms for Mrs Willis’ head shave are also available to sign at Number 15 Cafe, in Market Place, Barnard Castle.