A LOVING mother has braved the shave to raise money in memory of her son on the tenth anniversary of his death.

Christine Edmonds, from Braintree, raised more than £1,000 for Farleigh Hospice to thank them for caring for her son before his death.

Richard Briggs died ten years ago on Boxing Day aged from leukaemia. He was just 32. 

Christine, who is now retired, said: “It was awful at the time, and during the last year of his life, the hospice really helped.

“Many might not realise that they help not only the patient but the family too, they might not understand how much they can do for you, it really took away a lot of the strain.

“I was a single lady at the time trying to look after him with my daughter, so without their help I could not have coped.

“He was an inpatient quite a lot there and it often was 24-hour care, and they were amazing, so I thought it was time to give something back.”

Christine had her head shaved all over earlier in December to fundraise for the hospice.

The 67-year-old was given a free haircut by the town’s Lipstick and Locks hairdressers.

She said: “I had been thinking about it for two or three years but had never been brave enough.

“I just said to myself that the hospice need money more than I need my hair, so I finally got it done.

“A hospice representative came down on the day, and they are very thankful for the money raised.

“We also have a hospice shop in Braintree and they were also been very good, they sorted the paperwork, I just had to get sponsors and get a haircut.

“My target was £1,000 but after everything I raised about £1,200 and am so grateful for the support I have received from friends, family and businesses in Braintree.

“I got a number one all over, and it is certainly much colder now, even if I have been bought a few woolly hats, by friends.

“It is just something you put up with, and it was definitely worth it for Richard and the hospice.”