An East Cambridgeshire resident and home care professional is having her head shaved to raise money for a local charity before she starts chemotherapy herself.
Kerry Giles-Brown, from Littleport, will brave the shave in aid of Caring Together, a charity supporting unpaid, family carers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk.
Kerry has worked for the Cambridgeshire-based charity for over 30 years and last year held a fundraising tea-party, raising over £1,000 to support the work of the charity.
Earlier this year, Kerry was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer but together with her family, she is determined that some good will come of her situation.
Kerry is due to start chemotherapy shortly so has organised to have her head shaved to raise money to help the charity she is so devoted to.
The sponsored shave will take place at Kerry’s home in Littleport on Monday August 12.
Kerry said: “Caring Together Charity is a major part of my life and always will be.
“I want the charity to benefit at this time. Having been part of the team for a long time, I know how important our support is to people who are caring for a family member.
“This is a way for me to do something positive and make sure the day is filled with laughter, smiles and hope.”
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As a care assistant, Kerry is a member of the team providing breaks to unpaid carers by stepping in to look after the person with a disability or long-term illness.
The charity provides breaks for unpaid carers so that they can go to a GP or hospital appointment without worrying about the person they look after back at home.
Chief executive of Caring Together Miriam Martin said: “We are in awe of Kerry! It’s amazing that at a time when she faces her own serious health issues she’s thinking of the unpaid carers we support and those they look after.
“We are immensely proud of Kerry who has worked tirelessly with our charity for over 30 years.
“She inspires us to do everything we can to make sure unpaid carers aren’t ignored or forgotten when they are doing something as incredible as looking after a family member who depends on them.
“Kerry’s amazing fundraising efforts will help ensure vital services, like our fun activities for children who are carers, can continue.”
Kerry’s daughter Megan has set up an online fundraising page and there will also be a raffle and cake sale to raise as much money as possible.
Caring Together Charity is currently supporting 126 unpaid carers in Littleport itself, and over 580 across the wider Ely area. Each year the charity helps over 27,000 people.
To find out more about Caring Together Charity visit caringtogether.org, email hello@caringtogether.org or call 0345 241 0954.
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