A NORTH Yorkshire woman aims to raise as much money as possible for a hospital scanner, after accompanying a mother-of-four with cancer on trips of more than 120 miles to appointments.

Alex Brading, from the village of Wath, near Thirsk, decided to get behind the Friarage Hospital’s MRI Scanner Appeal in Northallerton, after accompanying a friend to MRI scan appointments at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle.

Her friend, Fiona Saxby, from Wath, has been diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Ms Brading said use of the scanner at the Freeman Hospital has been critical to her friend’s diagnosis and on-going treatment.

Now she is planning a sponsored head shave to raise money for the Friarage Hospital’s MRI Scanner Appeal in Northallerton, in the hope people can receive treatment nearer home.

In addition she also aims to raise further funds by giving up alcohol for February. So far she has raised just short of £1,000.

Ms Brading said: “It’s very humbling to go with her; cancer does not discriminate. A new scanner would be helping people by preventing them having to travel as far, but will also help people’s recovery rate if they can be seen quicker.

“I just want to keep going doing everything I can to help raise more money.”

Ms Brading will be undergoing her sponsored head shave at the Hair Company in Ripon on Friday, February 5.

She will be donating her hair to The Little Princess Trust which provides real hair wigs and hair pieces to children who suffer hair loss due to cancer treatment.

To donate, visit her JustGiving page: https://www.justgiving.com/alexbrading/