A GREENOCK mum who is recovering from a brain tumour will ‘brave the shave’ this week for charity.

Mum-of-two Ellen Cole is losing her locks in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.

Her friend Rosemary Kane is also taking part in the hair-oic challenge.

Ellen, who lives in Cumberland Road, said: “I’ve been one of the lucky ones so I just thought I would do something.

“I’ve also had quite a few family members who have had cancer so I thought it would be nice to do it for Macmillan.”

Ellen’s ordeal began in June last year when she was diagnosed after suffering from painful headaches.

One month later she had a six hour operation.

Ellen: “I underwent major surgery at the Southern General Hospital and they removed it all.”

Although doctors discovered that the tumour wasn’t cancerous, 41-year-old Ellen now has balance problems and memory problems.

Her friend Rosemary was keen to support Ellen’s courage by getting her hair chopped off too.

She said: “Ellen is the bravest person I know.

“When we found out about the brain tumour I was panicking but she just took it in her stride.

“She put us all to shame the way she got on with things.”
Rosemary says she also has a personal reason for taking part in the close shave.

She said: “My mum Mary died of cancer four years ago — she had cervical cancer 20 years ago and it came back into her lungs and spread into her brain.

“And my friend Leeanne O’Donnell passed away in 2006 from lung cancer.

“She had to get her hair shaved off but she took it in her stride.”

Rosemary also plans to donate her hair to the Little Princess Trust charity which makes real hair wigs for children who have lost their hair due to cancer.

The plucky pair will brave the shave at a charity night they’ve organised in the RAF Club in Greenock on Friday.

Tickets cost £5 and can be purchased by calling Ellen on 0794 0776927.

To donate sponsorship visit www.bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/ellen-cole1