PENNY Pemberthy of Parkend is planning to have her waist-length dark locks shaved off to help the family of a friend who died of cancer.
Louella Castro, 37, died last week after a two-year battle with the illness, leaving three young children and husband Eden.
A Filipino nurse, she had not been working in the UK long enough to qualify for British citizenship so the children have now gone back to the Philippines to live with their grandparents. The state there does not provide the kind of financial support that we take for granted from our social services.
Penny, an active member of Forest of Dean Community Church, is planning to have her hair cut in the Community Church in Station Street, Cinderford, on Sunday April 19.
Pastor Tim Cracknell said: "Penny has the most gorgeous waist-length black hair which she is justly proud of. To allow it all to be shaved off is typical of her big heart for helping other people. The money raised will be a massive help to the poor children."
Dozens of people have already pledged to sponsor her and help ther children Charlene, Lawrence and Mark. Anyone wishing to sponsor Penny can via the Forest of Dean Community Church 01594 824076 or email [email protected]">[email protected]