Girly girl Sophie faces the chop

A loving daughter is supporting her mum through her cancer battle by cutting off her own hair.
Sophie Shelton.Sophie Shelton.
Sophie Shelton.

Sophie Shelton’s mum, Michelle Clegg, will soon start to lose her hair due to chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with breast cancer. So Sophie is going to go baldly where she has never gone before by cutting off her locks as a show of solidarity.

“I’m normally a really girly girl,” said Sophie, 27. “But that’s why I chose to do this, because I’ve always been a bit vain about the way I look. This really puts things into perspective – it doesn’t matter what you look like as long as you have your health.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Other members of Sophie’s family have been affected by the disease so it is a very personal challenge. “I’ve always done a but of fundraising for different charities and this is way of making it a bit easier for my mum,” said Sophie.

The mum-of-one has often complained about bad hair days, but on Sunday morning she’ll have nothing to moan about as her hair will be shorter than its ever been. She faces the chop in front of family and friends at Soothill Working Men’s Club on Saturday.

“I’m a little bit nervous,” said Sophie, who owns the Tanning Studio in Commercial Street with her mum, 50. “But everyone has been so supportive.”

And Sophie’s hair-raising stunt is also raising cash for Cancer Research UK. She had a target of raising £3,000 but she has smashed that and is well on her way to raising £3,500. Donations have been pouring in online and in the salon. “It’s been unbelievable,” added Sophie. “The Batley community have really come together.

“The most important thing is to find a cure.

“At first my mum didn’t want me to do it but I was adamant. Then the money started coming in so there’s no going back!”

Visit www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Shelton1 to donate.