A MOTHER who is battling breast cancer is shaving her hair to raise money for charity — two days before she starts gruelling chemotherapy.

Theresa Derbyshire, aged 66, of Old Lane, Little Hulton, will be joined by daughter Tina Palfrey, aged 34, and her sisters in having her hair shaved at the Asda in Burnden Park, Manchester Road, on Friday morning.

Mrs Derbyshire, who was diagnosed on August 21, is raising money for Breast Cancer Care UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.

On Sunday, she will begin five months of chemotherapy with The Christie NHS Foundation Trust.

She said: “When I heard from my doctor that I was definitely having chemotherapy and was going to lose my hair, I thought ‘I might as well raise some money from it’.”

Mrs Derbyshire, who has had T-shirts donated from her local Matalan store, is both excited and nervous about the head-shave.

She said: “Tina has been brilliant.

“I was so touched when she said she would have her head shaved too.

“She’s been with me throughout this whole ordeal and I can’t thank her enough.”

Ms Palfrey, of Gorse Drive, Little Hulton, praised her mother’s mental strength during this difficult time and thanked those who have donated so far.

She added: “She’s just faced it head on and deserves a lot of credit for that. I’m so proud of my sisters for joining me in the head shave.

“The support we’ve been given is absolutely amazing.”

Various businesses have donated items to be sold and raffled and the store is making a whole event for the full day.

Ms Palfrey has set up a Facebook group before to Friday’s event, with more than 800 people invited to attend. To donate on the Breast Cancer Care website, go to breastcancercare.org.uk/Donate To donate on the Macmillan website, go to macmillan.org.uk/Donate