In memory of her brother: Elgin woman’s headshave raises thousands for brain tumour charity
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AN ELGIN woman has raised nearly £2500 for a cancer charity after shaving her head in memory of her brother.
Tracie France (62) shaved her hair off in memory of brother Stephen Cripps (71) who died in February, five months after being diagnosed with a brain tumour.
While the aim was to raise £1000, she has so far raised £2380 for The Brain Tumour Charity. She hopes the money will go towards helping other families who find themselves in a similar position to her’s.
“When I looked into it, I discovered that of all the funding available for cancer research, only 1.3 per cent goes to brain tumours,” she said. “So I decided to raise some money.
“I would have been happy with £1000 but it was at £900 within a few days and it kept going up and up and up. The JustGiving is still open so I’m hoping it will tip past the £2500 mark.
“It was in honour of my brother. The money was never going to do him any good, it was too late for him, the tumour he was diagnosed with wasn’t treatable, but I would like to think in future it will be.
“We have never been affected by cancer as a family so it was such a shock. If we can help people in same situation that would be great.”
Stephen was 71 when he died, but he was fit, healthy and in employment as a HGV driver at the time.
Tracie added: “It progressed so quickly that he wasn’t really aware of what was going on, but we went down to see him in Cumbria as often as we could.”
Tracie’s head was shaved at the Ex-Services Club in Elgin by Lorraine-Ironside-Bown, who is a hairdresser to trade but is now the manageress at the Esso Petrol Station beside Tesco in Forres.
Her husband Dougie had his hair cut at the same time, and they were supported by members of the Elgin and Lossiemouth Armed Forces Veterans Breakfast Club that the pair formed two years ago and continue to run.
“I appreciated Lorraine’s support and the support from the Ex-Services Club,” she said. “It was nice to have some members of the breakfast club along to cheer me on.
“My husband has been fully behind me and supportive. He shaved his head at the same time. That is his normal look, but now we are like matching peas in a pod!
“We managed to raise £100 in a bucket on the night from people throwing in tenners, and we have raised £200 since the event which is great.”
On her new hairstyle, Tracie added: “I wish it wasn't quite as cold, but it's only hair and it will grow back!”
To donate to the JustGiving page, visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/tracie-france-1707582519891
