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Dufftown mum to 'Brave the Shave' for Macmillan Cancer Support


By Ewan Malcolm

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DUFFTOWN resident Gemma Taylor is set to 'Brave the Shave' to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support next month.

Gemma hopes her fundraiser will set an example for her son Cammi-James Taylor (3) to look back on when he gets older. Picture: Becky Saunderson.
Gemma hopes her fundraiser will set an example for her son Cammi-James Taylor (3) to look back on when he gets older. Picture: Becky Saunderson.

Gemma (30) has set an initial fundraising target of £500 and will have her head shaved on November 13 to raise awareness for the cancer charity.

Cancer has played a prominent role throughout Gemma's life, but now she is hoping to give back to the charity she says is closest to her heart.

"I just really admire the work that Macmillan do," Gemma said.

"They are so attentive. I've had close family members, friends and colleagues get cancer. Just seeing people fading away is awful. That makes you realise that cancer doesn't discriminate.

"When I saw 'Brave the Shave' I just thought that's what I had been looking for and I decided to go for it. It had to be something for a cancer charity because I have experienced quite a lot of that in my life. Macmillan's cause meant so much to me because I have seen them in action so I'm going for it."

Gemma, originally from Burghead, first experienced the devastation that cancer causes when she was nine after her great uncle was diagnosed. That was followed by her grandad in 2013 who was diagnosed with lung cancer before she lost a close friend and former colleague to the disease not long after.

Gemma is no stranger to a fundraiser. At 16 she raised £500 for Macmillan by taking part in the Boxing Day Swim in Burghead. That was followed by a successful tombola fundraiser when she was 18 and a teddy bear sale when she was 21 - all in aid of cancer charities.

However, she is hoping that by taking part in 'Brave the Shave' she can set an example for others.

She said: "I've done fundraisers before on significant birthdays and that's why I'm doing this one which was meant for my 30th.

"This one is a bit different. I wanted to do something that would grab people's attention more than a bake sale or tombola.

"My three year old doesn't understand yet. Hopefully he can look back in the future and see that I'm doing this to help.

"I want to set an example for younger people. Setting that example to show it's ok to feel sad about it. It's ok to feel sorry that you can't help with treatment or with the pain.

"But no matter how helpless you feel, there is always something you can do. It's comforting. That's really the message I want to get across by doing this."

Since 2015 the 'Brave the Shave' campaign has raised over £22.7 million. Participants can also donate their hair to the Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs to children and young adults with cancer.

Those looking to donate or find out more can do so here.


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