A CHARITY leading the fight against cancer will get £1,000 - plus fringe benefits - after the landlady of a Blackburn pub took part in a sponsored head-shave. Marie Willacy, landlady of the Vauxhall, Redlam, wanted to keep a short fringe, but regulars threw a further £60 on to the pub pool table to convince her to have all her hair shaved.

Marie decided to raise money for Cancer Research after her best friend, Ian Clayton, died from a brain tumour two years ago.

Customer businessman David Collingwood, from Darwen, has cancer and he had his beard shaved off to raise more money.

Kim Carter, another customer, helped organise the event after her brother was diagnosed with cancer.

Marie said: "It looks like we are going to raise about £1,000 for Cancer Research. We decided to do it because cancer affects so many people."

Regulars at the pub have already given £1,000 to cancer charities raised by events including raffles, collections and a cricket match. They split the proceeds between the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, and Macmillan Nurses.

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