WHEN Chris Gore was diagnosed with breast cancer she decided not to just sit back and wait until she lost her hair.

The 70-year-old was diagnosed in July and after having a mastectomy is currently undergoing chemotherapy but instead of waiting for her hair to fall out she decided to shave it off to raise money for charity.

Chris, who lives in Ambergate in Atherton, has so far raised more than £800 for The Christie as a thank you for their care.

She said: "I was told that there would be a 90 per cent chance that I would lose my hair and preferring not to wake up one morning to find myself bald and all my hair on my pillow, I decided to pre-empt this follicle challenge and have my head shaved.

"The thinking behind it was that The Christie and the Cancer Care Team at Wigan have been so good, I felt I wanted to give something back.

"So, kindly the residents at Ambergate, friends, family, former work colleagues and neighbours both here and in Scotland have all contributed and to date, £826 has been raised, with more sponsor money to come in."

Chris moved to Scotland when she retired as a secretary but has since returned to the area. Her niece Christine Kay, who owns New Trend hairdressing salon in Bolton, shaved her hair for her.

"Whilst I sat there and didn't turn a hair, she got rid of the whole lot," said Chris.

"This money is going to go initially to Holts Brewery who founded and funded the Holt Radium Centre at the Christie Hospital many years ago.

"They still contribute financially to the hospital and have a policy of matching pound for pound any money that is raised for The Christie so hopefully there will be a very handsome contribution topping up the pot."