A Douglas teenager has had her head completely shaved as part of her campaign to raise money for Manx Cancer Help.

Lilly Elson, 13, had her hair shaved off at the Strand Shopping Centre, Douglas, by staff from Lime Street Studio.

She told the Examiner she wanted to do something in memory of her grandmother who died from cancer.

Lilly added: ’One in two people will come across cancer at some point in their life and MCH is an amazing charity that helps people and their families to support them and I wanted to help by raising money for them and help in any way that I could.’

Her mum Ida said she was ’emotional’ at the idea of Lilly not having any hair and the two have discussed other ideas for fundraising that ’weren’t so drastic’. But she added: ’I am certainly very proud of her. It will be a shock, but it is such a nice thing to do and very brave.

’She is a 13-year-old girl who has all the peer pressure and self consciousness but she wanted to do something amazing to raise as much money as she can.

’I did wonder if it is the right thing for her to do, but I’m now sure it is.’

Lilly’s hair has been donated to the Little Princess Trust, a charity that makes wigs for children who lose their hair as a result of illness or treatments.

She said: ’I thought not only am I raising and donating the money, I’m also donating my hair so they can make a wig for somebody who is living with cancer.

’I also wanted to know what it’s like, to live without hair and get a basic idea for how people who lose their hair live without it.’

As well as shaving her hair off, Lilly has organised cake sales and a raffle and written to many local businesses to ask for donations of either raffle prizes or money.

Her efforts so far have seen her raise more than £2,500. To make a donation visit www.justgiving.com/fundraising/lilly-elson-hair-shave.