A WOMAN has decided to have her head shaved for charity after losing her husband to lung cancer.

Ruth Hibberd, 48, of Wroughton, had her locks chopped off on Friday to mark the second anniversary of the death of her husband, Graham.

Graham collapsed at home on April 10, 2010, and it was not until the post-mortem examination that the family found out that he had suffered from lung cancer.

Ruth said that she wanted to do something memorable to mark the anniversary but because of a back problem her doctor said she was unable to do anything physically exerting.

“I wanted to do something to mark the anniversary – last year I was too torn up to do anything,” said Ruth.

“I was told by the doctor that I couldn’t do a skydive or a bungee jump so I decided to do a head shave.

“I thought people who are fighting the disease don’t have a choice about losing their hair, but mine will grow back.”

Ruth visited Maisie Wick Hairdressers, in Wroughton, and said the support she has had since the appointment has been fantastic.

She had aimed to raise £100 for Cancer Research UK but has surpassed that figure and is now close to collecting £300.

“The support I have received from people has been overwhelming.

“I go to the working men’s club on a Friday night and when I walked in I had people who had already donated giving me more money.

“A chap on the door whose wife, Wendy, has been fighting breast cancer, told me on Friday night that she had been given the all clear.

“I broke down in tears of happiness – there have been a lot of deaths in the village because of cancer – to hear someone has survived it is fantastic.”

Ruth has saked donors to send cheques directly to Cancer Research UK.