A teaching assistant at Kenilworth School, Gaye Hutchinson, has this week raised over £3,000 after shaving off all her hair to raise money and awareness for Cancer Research UK.

Gaye has worked at Kenilworth School for over 15 years now, and at the time of writing her Cancer Research fundraising page has received £3,357 in donations, with another £510 to come from Gift Aid.

Included at the top of this page is a quick video showing her transformation and great achievement.

When asked why she had decided to take on such a brave piece of fundraising Gaye said "two years ago my father-in-law's partner died very quickly of cancer, it was very sudden, she found out in the January and by October she had passed away. She was just about to retire; and was only in her early sixties."

Sadly, this was not to be Gaye's only motivation. Her grandmother and her close friend's mother also both passed away, after suffering with bowel cancer.

As if this was not enough, the disease was to have another impact on her life this September. "A very, very dear friend Angela Cannadine, who I had worked with for thirteen years at the school, passed away so quickly after being told that she had breast cancer."

Following all this Gaye decided "I wanted to do something."

Having initially considered doing the three peaks, but ruling it out for health reasons, Gaye said "how about if I shave all my purple locks off?

"I got the blessing off all my family, and Mr Abbot, the head teacher at the school, and did it!"

Gaye's two eldest daughters are both hairdressers, and middle daughter Laura who works at Alexander James in Leamington, was able to come to her house for the big event.

Since then, Gaye's efforts have received the support that they deserve.

"My daughters put it on social media and the response that I got was amazing," even adding that "I did have a target of £500 initially!"

Having well exceeded that original milestone Gaye said "I am hoping, it would be really nice, that maybe we could get to the £4000, but I am happy with whatever anybody can give.

"I would never want to be told that I had cancer, I have nursed people with cancer, and it such a cruel disease. So I am hoping that what I have raised will make a small difference to what they do.

"I am just hoping this will help and I am glad that I have made this decision."

Gaye is even considering whether to keep it at this length "I am always moaning about my hair getting wet in the rain, and now I don't need to worry about it. Although my husband is calling me baldilocks now!"

Adding "It has been a very emotional three or four weeks, and do you know what I am happy with it, it looks good I think."

If you would like to support Gaye then please follow this link to make a donation via her Cancer Research page.

Cancer Research UK is a national charity which raises funds to invest in cancer research and to support families and individuals after a cancer diagnosis. If you would like to find out more please follow this link.