Shrewsbury cancer survivor shaves head for charity

Nineteen-year-old Esme Ramsden, from Shrewsbury, who has been cancer free for 14 years, watched her bob length locks fall to the floor.

She went through with the shave to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

Esme's head shave took place at the Cancer Research store on High Street, Shrewsbury, watched by friends and store volunteers.

Her head was shaved by Ruth McCluskey from Mr David Hair and Beauty, a salon in the town.

Esme, who was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of five, is partially sighted and still suffers from the side-effects of the treatment.

She regularly raises money for Cancer Research through bake sales, as well as sponsored silences and by taking part in the annual Race for Life event in the town, but admits her latest fundraiser is her bravest yet.

She said: "This is definitely my bravest and boldest fundraising move yet. I just want to help play a part in defeating cancer."

Once the shave was complete Esme said she was happy with her new look, which shows the scars from her treatment as a child.

"My scars show that I'm a survivor and that I beat the disease and that's a big reason why I've done this," she said.

"I feel absolutely elated now that it's done and it actually doesn't look bad. I like it."

One of Esme's best friends Danni Davies, who watched and supported her during the shave described her as "amazing".

The 19-year-old said: "I'm really proud of her, she does so many things to raise money for Cancer Research. She devotes her life to helping others who are battling cancer. She's so brave."

Pauline Stopford, volunteer at the store, commended Esme for her dedicated fundraising.

"She's very good and what she's done today is brilliant. She's always doing something but today she's done something really brave," said Ms Stopford.

Esme now has her sights set on taking on a charity skydive and is also looking forward to having her third tattoo in the coming weeks.

She added: "It's going to say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, a saying I totally believe in."

• You can sponsor Esme’s head shave at: https://www.justgiving.com/esme-lucy