Bournemouth GP receptionist 'braving the shave' for cancer charity
Niamh Hogan is doing after seeing a friend battle illness
A receptionist from a Bournemouth GP surgery is 'braving the shave' today (Saturday 8th July), in honour of a friend who's battling illness.
Niamh Hogan, who works at Beaufort Road in Southbourne, is raising money for Macmillan Cancer Support, by cutting off her hair.
She's already had ÂŁ600 in donations, smashing her ÂŁ350 fundraising target!
Niamh says she just wanted to show support for her friend:
“Her story is not mine to tell, her struggles are not mine to share but what I can tell you is what it’s like from my perspective. It aches deep in the pit of your stomach knowing there’s nothing you can do, nothing you can say to make it better.
“You watch the other people who love them ache too and of course, that person. There’s nothing positive about cancer but the people who fight it: they’re a different story.
"They’re formidable, unwavering and emit the brightest of glows. She takes fear and turns it into strength. She takes uncertainty and turns it into acceptance, ensuring everyone around her feels reassured.”
Dr Debbie Hartley at Beaufort Road Surgery said:
“We want to encourage people to be aware of the signs of cancer. If you have any concerns, do not delay in making an appointment at your GP practice. Make sure you attend routine screenings you are invited to, such as cervical screening. The earlier cancer is diagnosed, the better the outcome is for the person. Everyone at the practice is behind Niamh and we also want to help her raise awareness about symptoms of cancer.”
The surgery is raising awareness of the symptoms of sarcomas - uncommon cancers that can affect any part of the body.
They often start as a lump, that gets bigger quickly, and accounts for 2% of all cancers.
July is a national awareness month of sarcoma.
Niamh said:
“My friend is not just one of the many people fighting this disease, she’s our person. She’s a mother, a wife, a friend, a colleague, so much more and to me, my second mom, my mama. While it’s still unclear whether she will lose her hair, I told her a long time ago that if she does, so do I. None of us can fight this for her but maybe we make her feel that she’s not alone in this and that we’re right here with her.”