A WOMAN bravely battling breast cancer is focusing on the positives after a close shave.

Liz Russell, from Poundbury, decided to take on a sponsored head shave to benefit three cancer charities two weeks after starting chemotherapy.

The 48-year-old collected sponsorship from nine salons around Dorchester before having her locks chopped off at the Dorchester Hair Studio in Trinity Street.

Liz, who was diagnosed with cancer last August, came up with the idea for the head shave around a month ago as she was faced with the prospect of losing her hair when she underwent chemotherapy.

She said: “It’s quite traumatic for women in particular to lose their hair and I anticipated I would find it traumatic.

“So I wanted to try and turn it into a positive experience, not just a sad one.”

Liz was raising money for local charity the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust as well as two other cancer charities.

She chose to raise funds for the Mistletoe for Cancer in Aberdeen as she had to pay privately to receive therapy there, She also raised cash for the Penny Brohn Cancer Care Centre in Bristol.

Liz also collected her hair so she could sell it to a wig company and donate the money to charity and will also be donating the fee she would have given to her hairdresser Kim Rogers, who offered her services free of charge.

On the morning she got her hair cut she went to Dorset County Hospital to pick up her new wig.

After the shave Liz, who had friend Janet Ranger on hand for support on the day, said: “It hasn’t been too traumatic at all.

“I feel really positive about it because I know I’ve done it not just for me.

“It’s redeeming for me.”

Liz said she was hoping to raise £3,000 so she could hand over £1,000 to each of her chosen charities and said she wanted to thank all the salons that took part and helped raised funds for her.