A WHEELCHAIR-bound woman went for the chop to raise money in memory of an old friend.

Sheree Tebbutt, from Weymouth, braved wind and rain to have her hair shaved off at Sports Direct in the town centre.

She was raising money for the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust in remembrance of Avonlea Nursing Home matron David Vincent-Sampson, who passed away from cancer.

He cared for Mrs Tebbutt when she needed respite and his nursing home hosted her wedding vow renewals last year.

Mrs Tebbutt, aged 54, said: “I wanted to shave my hair on this day because it’s our 26th wedding anniversary and this time last year, we were renewing our vows at Avonlea.

“I did it to say thank you for the brilliant time we had.

“I am wheelchair bound, but nothing stops me from fundraising.

“Despite the bad weather, it went well. I was lucky to be just inside Sports Direct so I didn’t get drenched in the rain.

“My husband has cancer and I’ve lost some very important people to the disease, so I want to do as much as I can to raise money.”

But Mrs Tebbutt, who lost her mother to cancer, said she received some negative responses to her fundraising effort.

She said: “Unfortunately a lot of people just walked on by and going around the town afterwards, I got a lot of strange looks.

“When my husband said ‘she did it for charity’ some people said I was stupid.

“Fortunately there were a lot more supportive people who said ‘well done’.

“I just think, you’re fit and healthy now, but unfortunately one day you or a loved one might need Weldmar and it’s only there because of fundraisers.

“None of us would ever want to have to use Weldmar, but we’re so lucky to have them because they do a brilliant job.”

Mrs Tebbutt raised £200 in David’s memory and is planning to repeat the head shave in September.

She will also take part in Weldmar’s Midnight Walk for the second time and is organising a sponsored paraglide in August. To take part in the Midnight Walk, visit weld-hospice.

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