Cleaner donates hair and raises £1,200 for nurses at Grimsby hospital's Pink Rose Suite

A CLEANER who hadn't had a haircut in 15 years donated her endless locks to teenage girls with cancer after her son's 24-year-old partner was diagnosed with the disease.

On Friday, hair donor Debbie Jackson, 47, also handed a cheque for more than £1,200 to nurses at Grimsby hospital's Pink Rose Suite – which has been like a second home to her son's partner Amy Burgess.

Last year, Debbie, of Durban Road, had all but forgotten the upsetting images of balding teenagers she saw on TV in 1998 that upset her so much that she vowed not to cut her hair until there was enough to make a wig for one of them.

But she got a terrible reminder of that promise when Amy – who lives with Debbie's son Scott and their children Kacey, 5, Declan, 4, and Connor, 2, in Sussex Street – was diagnosed with breast cancer in August.

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The news shocked Debbie into action and she started organising her first haircut in 15 years after letting it grow down to below her waist – but it was to be a little more than a trip to the salon.

"Like most young girls, Amy's hair was her pride and joy and it gave me the kick up the backside that I needed to do what I had always planned to – and raise some money, too," she said.

Debbie, who is a cleaner at Havelock Academy, asked acting principal Phil Burdass if the school would get behind a campaign to raise some money for the Pink Rose Suite – and he was happy to oblige.

Pupils held cake sales and other fundraising events to top up Debbie's sponsorship money for the suite, which was providing invaluable care for Amy, who has just finished chemotherapy.

As well as donating the cash, Debbie has also sent her hair – which was nearly a metre long – to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for teenage girls who suffer from cancer.

Amy, now 25, said: "I was in shock when I lost my hair – it is awful for anyone but even harder for young girls who have to go to school.

"Going through this is tough for anyone but hopefully, what Debbie has done might make it just a little easier for someone of that age."

Debbie added: "Young girls like to stay glamorous and it feels great to think that my hair is helping a young girl who is already going through enough with cancer feel just a little bit better about themselves.

"The Pink Rose Suite has really helped Amy so I was so pleased to hand over the cheque and we have all got our fingers crossed for her."