A TEACHER will swap the Bunsen burner for the buzz of clippers as she braves the shave for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Heather McCollin, of Steam Mill Road, Bradfield, will shave her hair off as the main event during a summer fete fundraiser at Flatford Mill on Saturday, August 11.

The event, from 1pm to 3pm in front of Valley Farm, will also have a bake sale with all money going to MacMillan.

Heather, a science teacher at Westbourne Academy, Ipswich hit her fundraising target within three weeks of signing up for the challenge and now hopes to raise even more.

The 34-year-old said: “I set a target of £1,000 thinking I would really struggle to capture people’s interest as just another fundraiser, but within just three weeks, people have been so generous.

“I’d like to do now is invite members of the public to get behind my event to see if we can blow that already amazing amount out of the water and raise as much money as possible for a wonderful cause.”

Heather decided to fundraise after her auntie Louise, who lives in Cambridgeshire, was diagnosed with cancer two months ago. She has since been told the cancer in her lungs, spine and brain is terminal.

Heather said in the first weeks following the diagnosis, her auntie found the support of the Macmillan team invaluable.

She added: “I have never had my hair so short and whilst a little bit nervous, I am proud to stand in solidarity with my Auntie Lou and all the millions of individuals - and their families - who are touched by cancer every year.

“She is having chemotherapy and will lose her hair - that’s what really kicked this off.

“After I went to see her I heard an advert on the radio about Brave the Shave and decided to sign up.”

“Macmillan do such fantastic work with people during some of their darkest hours.

“In 2015, the charity reached 5.8 million people affected by cancer.

“Macmillan make a real difference to the lives of the families they work with and continue to support family members even after the cancer sufferer has passed away. Very few charities offer such a commitment.”

After the shave, Heather will be donating her hair to Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for child cancer sufferers.

To donate visit bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/heather-mccollin or text SHAVE 12035 to 70550 to donate £5.