Chapel-en-le-Frith woman's head shave fundraiser in memory of best friend

Marie Lawton spent her birthday braving the shave at Dove Holes Cricket Club in honour of her 56-year friendship with Noreen Renshaw who died in July.

She also wanted to help others by raising money for the new Christie cancer centre in Macclesfield and has so far collected £2,170.

Marie, 68, said: “Noreen had breast cancer seven years ago, but thankfully went into remission after treatment. Sadly, her cancer returned this year and this time it had spread to the brain. She received radiotherapy at The Christie in Manchester, but it was only to manage her symptoms.

“Noreen was passionate about supporting the development of the new Christie centre in Macclesfield as she would have liked to have had access to a local centre when she was first diagnosed with cancer seven years ago and had to travel to receive her chemotherapy treatment.

“Back then Noreen lost her hair so I shaved my head then too. I thought doing it again in her memory was a fitting tribute.

“I’m the same age as Noreen and my 68th birthday was on the day of the head shave. I feel very proud and privileged to have been able to do this to remember my dearest friend and her lovely family, also knowing that I’m helping other cancer patients in the future.”

Noreen’s daughters, Elizabeth and Kathryn, also chose The Christie at Macclesfield for the donations from her funeral.

Louise Dawson from The Christie charity said: We are really grateful to Marie and everyone who supported her head shave. And we’d like to thank Elizabeth and Kathryn for choosing The Christie for the donations from their mum’s funeral.

“The Christie at Macclesfield will transform cancer care in Cheshire, the High Peak area of Derbyshire and parts of North Staffordshire, providing care closer to home for more than 1,500 existing Christie patients a year.”

The new centre, which is due to open to patients in 2022, will bring together essential cancer services, delivering specialist access to radiotherapy, chemotherapy, outpatient care and palliative care.