A FIELD care supervisor has shaved her head to raise money for charity and pay tribute to her grandfather, who died when she was just a year old.

Emily Baker, 19, braved the shave at her workplace, Altogether Care on St Edmund's Church Street in Salisbury, on Thursday (October 24).

Her grandfather died around 18 years ago. He lived in North Macedonia and was called Vase. Emily called him Dedo Vase, which translates as ‘Grandpa Vase’.

The shave took place during a wider fundraiser for Breast Cancer Now organised by Altogether Care to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Emily's team presented her with a bunch of flowersEmily's team presented her with a bunch of flowers (Image: Newsquest) Staff at the branch have raised nearly £400 through a JustGiving page, door-to-door collections, a raffle and a cake sale.

But Emily's head shave was the showpiece of the day, with staff members taking time out to watch and support her through it.

Her hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for children and young people who have lost their hair due to cancer treatment or other conditions.

Alyx makes the first cut of Emily's hairAlyx makes the first cut of Emily's hair (Image: Newsquest) “When I was younger, my grandad died of cancer. My manager asked me if I was willing to do this, and I said yes,” Emily said.

“It will be a nice tribute to him. I doesn't take much to whizz your hair off.

“I'm doing it of my own free will, but there are people going through the chemotherapy process who aren't. It's a solidarity thing.

“I'm a bit nervous. I've had short hair in the past, but then I wanted to see what it was like growing it out.

“When I was younger, I donated my hair to the Little Princess Trust, and I am again now, so I'm glad I've grown it out because I'll have more to give.

“It's been really nice to see how committed everyone is to this. Even £1 goes a long way towards research and curing this disease.”

Once her hair was gone, Emily said her head “feels a bit breezy” – and one colleague quipped that it will take her less time to get ready in the mornings.

That was followed by a raffle with prizes donated by local businesses, including a car valet, acrylic nails, an MOT, a cut and blow dry, biscuits and chocolates.