Abbey Centre shoppers watched in anticipation as charity worker Louise Kieft had all her hair shaved off to raise money for Cancer Research UK!

Louise has managed the Cancer Research UK shop in Abbey Shopping Centre for the past six years, so the shop window seemed the perfect location for the chop! As she sat down Duncan Brown, Abingdon’s Mayor, took the first snip saying he was sorry and that Louise was “very brave”. Louise’s mum, Ros Fleet, then took over the scissors and finished the job in a mere 11 minutes flat!

Abbey Shopping Centre was delighted to sponsor Louise £500. Centre Manager Paul Jackson applauds Louise on her strength and commitment to the cause: “Louise has shown a huge amount of courage in raising money for Cancer Research this way, and she definitely turned more than a few heads. We were delighted that Abbey Shopping Centre was able to sponsor and be a part of raising money for such an important cause.”

Louise’s valiant effort is expected to raise around £2500 in total for Cancer Research UK, and she also hopes to highlight October as being Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Louise explains the response she has had: “I am overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone. Lots of people said that I was brave for having my head shaved but it is nothing to the trauma that thousands of women with breast cancer are going through I admire the courage they have.”

And Louise certainly does not regret it: “I’m proud to have done it and I hope by shaving my hair, raising both funds and awareness, I may have made a small difference in maybe saving someone’s life.”