A WOMAN is shaving her head and hosting an event to raise money for the cancer charities that helped her mum, who lived in Birchwood for more than 30 years.

Helena Aspinall, 26, will fundraise for St Rocco’s Hospice and Cancer Research UK.

The mum-of-two from Birchwood decided to host the event in memory of her mother, Marie ‘Bernie’ Birch, who passed away aged 52 three years ago, only months after her diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

Mrs Aspinall said: “I thought I need to set a date to do this before I chicken out, and by making an event of it, I can get people together.

“My mum was friendly and community based. Having people around her was such a big thing.

“I get that trait from my mum, I love having people around me. I just wanted to share the experience with others.”

Once Mrs Aspinall has braved the shave, she will have a tattoo on her head to mark the occasion and remember her mum.

St Rocco’s Hospice in Bewsey played an important part in Mrs Aspinall’s mum’s last few days and in the grieving period afterwards.

Mrs Aspinall said: “She was only there for six days, but the staff and the volunteers and the facilities there are just fantastic.

“It was only this time last year – maybe two years after she’d passed – I realised I hadn’t grieved because I had so much going on in my life, and St Rocco’s provided very good counselling.”

Mrs Aspinall hopes to raise around £2,000, and has two fundraising pages set up online, one for each charity.

She said: “My mum was just the best mum I could ever ask for.

“Any problems, I always knew I could go to her and she would give the best advice possible.”

The event will start at 7pm on Friday at The King’s Head pub and Mrs Aspinall will begin having her hair cut off at 8.30pm.

Mrs Aspinall will also auction items on the night, such as a signed Warrington Wolves rugby shirt.

Speaking ahead of the event, Mrs Aspinall said: “I’m nervous but I’m excited.”