Gemma loses her locks for cancer charity

HER long hair, flowing halfway down her back, was once her crowning glory.

But bar manager Gemma Barua has had it all shaved off to raise money for children with cancer.

CLOSE SHAVE: Gemma Barua after her charity head shave and, above, in the chair with staff from Sharps Hairdressing and her Wetherspoons colleagues. Pictures: Simon Kench

Gemma, 30, works behind the bar at the Benjamin Fawcett pub in Driffield and has raised more than £1,000 for CLIC Sargent.

Gemma said: "My husband wasn't too keen but I got him on board eventually and he sponsored me.

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"My friends have been very supportive, although a few of them think I'm crazy."

The haircut took place in full view at the pub with staff in Hawaiian fancy dress.

Gemma has worked for the pub chain for ten years and is used to fundraising for charity.

She said: "My boss and all the male staff at the Benjamin Fawcett had their legs waxed over the summer. So I took my cue from them.

"We fundraise every month at Wetherspoons and they support CLIC.

"But our recent targets had been set a little bit too high, so we fell short and we were disappointed.

"I've never been one for doing a fun run or anything like that so I just decided I was going to shave my hair off, and that was that."

Gemma thinks it could take up to two years for her hair to grow back to the length it was before the charity head shave.

And she is determined to take part in more charity events as the pub chain continues to raise as much as it can for the children's charity.