She has raised an estimated £600-£650 for Macmillan Cancer Support so far and was inspired to shave her hair in memory of loved ones who have been affected by cancer.

Ipswich Star: Hannah Bigley with dad, Phil, during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN�Hannah Bigley with dad, Phil, during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN� (Image: Archant)

Hannah Bigley, 23, of Carlton Way, Ipswich, donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust after taking part in the charity shave at Ipswich Sports Club on Sunday afternoon.

• See here to donate to her cause.

Ipswich Star: Hannah Bigley during the head shave: Picture: NIGEL BROWN�Hannah Bigley during the head shave: Picture: NIGEL BROWN� (Image: Archant)

She said: “A few of my friends and family have either known someone who has had cancer or have gone through it themselves, and I wanted to support those who don’t have a choice about having their hair to show them that everyone cares and we are with them, even if that means shaving your head as well.

“One of my best friend’s cousins had cancer (leukaemia) and I saw how it affected them both. He was young and battled it for a long time unfortunately passed away after a few years.

“It can be hard, and it can be quite lonely. It can knock people’s confidence, so it is important that everyone around them lets them know they are not alone.”

Her father Phil and brother James, 27, shaved her hair at the sports club in Henley Road.

Ipswich Star: Hannah Bigley during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN�Hannah Bigley during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN� (Image: Archant)

“It doesn’t look awful!” she said.

“I do look like somebody else, but it doesn’t look awful. I’m pleased with how it went. There was a good turnout, there were a lot of donations, and I would like to thank the sports club for being great hosts. They were very kind to let me do it there, but we did leave quite a mess!”

Her hair has been donated to the Little Princess Trust. The national charity provides real hair wigs, free of charge, to children across the UK and Ireland that have lost their own hair through cancer treatment.

The charity also helps children with other conditions which also result in hair loss, such as alopecia.

Ipswich Star: Hannah Bigley during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN�Hannah Bigley during the head shave. Picture: NIGEL BROWN� (Image: Archant)

Miss Bigley said: “There was a boy at my school who was bullied because he had alopecia. He was quite young and I don’t think people understood. I felt quite bad for him. It wasn’t talked about openly and it was not something which was widely understood.”