Amy braves the shave and donates hair to say thanks for mum’s care 

Amy Hill, from Derbyshire, has raised thousands of pounds for our charity and the Little Princess Trust, by braving the shave in support of her mum, Linda, who has undergone treatment for cancer.  

Having seen firsthand how her mum bravely managed her hair loss as a result of the treatment, Amy felt she wanted to do something to recognise and thank the NHS who are supporting her mum.  

Amy said, “When we found out that mum had cancer, I decided that I wanted to shave my hair off as a show of solidarity and support. So many people who have cancer don’t have a choice when it comes to losing their hair, and that element can be daunting, especially if you identify as a woman. I wanted to fundraise for something that was meaningful and personal to us, so I shaved my head and raise funds for the Little Princess Trust and the staff at the Combined Day Unit and Oncology (Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity). 

At first mum didn’t want me to do it, but I convinced her that she had a great shaped head and that we could be without our hair together!    

Reflecting on her cancer journey, Amy’s mum Linda said, “I’ve worked in the NHS, locally in Derbyshire, for 29 years and so I have been part of the NHS family for such a long time. I was appointed by Sharon Martin, the previous Chief Operating Officer at UHDB at the then City Hospital site. I moved to Ripley Hospital in 1999 when my children were older and then, in 2019, Ripley Outpatients was taken back to be part of UHDB. I was diagnosed with cancer three weeks before my retirement last year. Although I chose not to tell many people at the time, I knew then that I’d get the best treatment.   

“The support that I have received from all the staff who have been involved in my journey has been incredible. From the nursing staff and clinical support workers to the housekeepers and volunteers on CDU, everyone has been amazing. They greet you with a smile, treat you with dignity and respect and make you laugh. I didn’t have to ask for anything and couldn’t have asked for better care. I can’t thank my Oncologist, Dr Fiona Smith and all of the staff in Oncology Outpatients enough.” 

During her treatment, Linda also benefited from hand massages and the use of a cold cap, which are fully funded by the Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity, to try and minimise hair loss for patients undergoing treatment for cancer.  

After some persuasion, Linda gave Amy the go ahead for her challenge and her Go Fund Me page was set up. In the first 24 hours of the page going live, Amy’s supporters had hit her original goal of £500 in less than five hours. Amy said, “In just over a month, people had donated £3,000. I work at Channel 4, who will match 10% of the funds for the Little Princess Trust and we’re now at just over £4,000 which is brilliant. I have received donations from people who haven’t even met my mum, so I can’t thank people enough.”  

Unbeknown to her mum, Amy, who has two sisters, went along to the hairdressers to have her head shaved just before Christmas in 2024. Locks of her hair were cut off and sent to the Little Princess Trust to be used to make wigs and hairpieces for children and young people affected by Cancer.    

Reflecting on the moment she saw her mum after her head shave, Amy said, “I didn’t tell mum when it was happening so when I went to see her for Christmas, that was the first time she saw me without my hair. She saw me from the window and even with a hat on, she could tell that I’d done it! I’d encourage anyone thinking of fundraising for the hospital charity to choose something that is personal to them, and perhaps something that takes them out of their comfort zone.” 

A proportion of Amy’s fundraising will go to the Little Princess Trust charity and the rest will go to Derby & Burton Hospitals Charity. The funds will be split between the Combined Day Unit and the Oncology Department at The Royal Derby Hospital.  

Linda is quite rightly very proud of Amy and the NHS. She said, “I am so proud of Amy; she looks lovely. It is very touching when someone donates something that will benefit other patients and staff. Being on the other side of the NHS is a totally different experience. My experience has been fantastic. Luckily, I haven’t had to use the NHS very often, but every time I have needed it, I’ve always received excellent care.” 

Speaking about how proud she is of Linda, Amy said, “My Mum does everything for everyone else. She always puts others before herself and nothing is ever expected in return. It is who she is as a person.” 

Amy’s Go Fund Me page is still open until March 14th 2025 for anyone wishing to make a donation.  https://www.gofundme.com/f/braving-the-shave-for-nhs-staff  

We’d like to thank Linda and Amy for sharing their story.