A young mother-of-five who is battling breast cancer has shaved her head to raise money for the charity which is helping her and her family while she has treatment.

A young mother-of-five who is battling breast cancer has shaved her head to raise money for the charity which is helping her and her family while she has treatment.

Catherine Hall, 36, who runs the Essence Bridal Wear shop in Market Cross Mews, North Walsham, is starting chemotherapy treatment today after being diagnosed with breast cancer in the New Year.

After she was told she would lose all her hair with the treatment, Mrs Hall, who lives in Bacton, decided to use the situation to help raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Charity.

She said: 'When I was told I would lose all my hair with the chemotherapy treatment I thought I would rather raise money for Macmillan and do something for charity, it was about getting back a little bit of control for myself.'

The head shave took place at nearby shop, The Priory Haircutters, on Tuesday and so far has raised �350, although more donations are expected to come in, especially as sponsorship forms have been placed in shops all around North Walsham.

Mrs Hall said: 'I was worried that after the head shave I would burst into tears, but I have not, I am fine.

'My family have been fantastic, I have been more worried about the effect all of this would have on them than how I would look after the head shave.

'What I hope this will also do is to raise awareness in other women. I am only young and have no history of breast cancer in my family, it was only because I regularly check myself that I was able to tell something was not right and went to my doctor.'

Amy Hahs, 23, from Cedar Court in North Walsham, had her head shaved in the middle of North Walsham town centre on the same day , in memory of her teenage brother who died after a life-long battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

Joshua Hahs, ,from Repps with Bastwick, was a 15-year-old pupil at Flegg High School Martham who lost his battle with cystic fibrosis in February 2005.

He had been diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of six weeks.

Now his sister, Amy has carried on the fundraising with the head shave in aid of The Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

She said; 'I did have a moment just before I had my head shaved where I thought of Joshua. He was such an important part of my life, I wanted to do something to show how much I loved him.'

So far she has managed to raise �135 with donations from family and friends. Her hope is to reach �200 once all donations are in.

To help with further fundraising, Charlotte Mijatovic from Ormesby near Great Yarmouth, who was one of Joshua's school friends, is also planning to take part in a cycle ride from Yarmouth to Scotland in June this year.