Shropshire Star

Telford mum shaves her head to support eight-year-old daughter's cancer fight

She started Sunday morning with her usual, healthy crop of hair. By lunchtime, it had gone – and Megan Miller couldn't be happier.

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Her daughter Alyvia had lost her own hair after another round of chemotherapy and Telford mum Megan decided to come out in solidarity with her little girl. They raised nearly £1,000 for Hope House Children's Hospice after the big shave-in took place at Telford Town Centre.

After we told Alyvia's story – she was only just eight and had lost her hair to chemotherapy seven times – many people came forward to pay tribute to the plucky little girl.

  • Are you raising money for Hope House or have a story to tell about the hospice?

  • Shirley Tart would love to hear from you. You can email her at shirleyhopehouse@shropshirestar.co.uk and if you have a favourite picture we may be able to use, send us that as well.

  • Don’t forget to also add details like full name, address, phone number and email address.

  • See all our cpverage of Hope House's 21st anniversary year at shropshirestar.com/news/hope-house-at-21

Alyvia suffers from neurofibromatosis Type 1. In Alyvia's case, that translates into optic pathway glioma, a tumour which has attacked the optic nerve which means her sight is heavily impaired.

Megan, from Trench, said: "It's a spontaneous genetic condition affecting one in 25,000 which can cause multiple learning conditions and other problems as well as tumours."

While Alyvia initially accepted losing her hair, as a proper girly girl this last time really bothered her.

Megan said: "She suddenly said half-way through the treatment she had changed her mind. She had suddenly started to think that people thought she was a boy and there was nothing I could do about it."

Megan wanted to stand alongside her youngster and couldn't be more pleased with the result. Supporters on the day included elder daughter Lilly who is 11 and also delighted with her mother's new look.

Megan said: "The support was incredible. It felt amazing to have my head shaved and knowing that Alyvia will now have me as a sidekick felt even better. The friend who shaved my head is Alyvia's one-to-one teacher Laura Roberts."

Lynsey Kilvert from Hope House is equally delighted with the outcome on behalf of the charity. And for a while, at least, Megan won't need any appointments with the hairdresser.

Alyvia with her mother Megan before the headshave

Megan's headshave is just one of scores of fundraising events planned to help Hope House. Telford Events Group will host a seasonal themed gourmet lunch at Hundred House, Norton, on April 29 to raise funds. Tickets are £20 each from the fundraising office on (01691) 671671.

Oswestry Events Group Halfway House Male Voice Choir will be in action again for the hospice on May 9. The choir will perform from 7pm, tickets at £5 and and information from the fundraising office or from Paperwrite, Oswestry.

Hope House will host its 21st Birthday Golf Day on May 19 at Hill Valley Hotel in Whitchurch.

The day will begin with bacon rolls, tea and coffee in the Masters Bar followed by 18 holes of golf. Enter your team by calling (01691) 671671 or e-mail fundraising@hopehouse.org.uk for an entry form.

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