A HEALTH worker has shown her support for a hospital fundraising appeal by shaving off her locks in a bid to raise cash and awareness for the cause.

Sheila Hansen, 62, from Romanby, hopes her head shave will encourage others to donate to Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital MRI Scanner appeal.

Ms Hansen, a healthcare assistant in the outpatients department at the Friarage Hospital, allowed Friends of the Friarage chairman, Dr Upendra Somasundram, to do the honours.

Suzi Campbell from South Tees Hospitals Charity said: “Sheila is very brave indeed having her head shaved and we really appreciate her gesture to help the scanner appeal.

“Public support is essential to make the scanner a reality and to help ensure the Friarage remains at the forefront of patient care for the local population.”

Ms Hansen, who has worked at the Friarage Hospital for 27 years, said she agreed to shave her locks in the sponsored heard shave because she wants to support the area where she lives and works, and to benefit local people who may need to use the MRI Scanner.

She said: “I hope people will dig deep to show their support by sponsoring me.”

South Tees Hospitals Charity in partnership with the Friends of the Friarage appeal to raise £2m for an MRI scanner - an essential piece of medical equipment used to investigate almost any part of the body – at the Friarage Hospital has recently reached its halfway mark and the final push is underway to reach the target.

Anyone who would like to sponsor Ms Hansen can make a donation on her Just Giving page at justgiving.com/SheliasHaircut/