A BRAVE mother, teased at school over her rich crop of red hair, is swapping her locks for a woollen hat for love of a daughter who has cancer.

Hilda Reed, of Meadow Rise, Bewdley, is having her hair shaved off to support her daughter Ann who is losing hers due to the chemotherapy treatment she is receiving for breast cancer.

Mrs Reed, who at the age of 69 is still crowned with an enviable head of hair that earned her the nickname "gingernut" at school, hopes too for sponsors to raise money for Macmillan nurses.

But her other main goal is to spread the message "there is life after cancer".

Mrs Reed had a mastectomy herself more than 20 years ago because of the disease and is completely recovered but her two sisters both died of breast cancer, Joan at the age of 42 and Gwen at age 40.

Now Ann has been diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 40 and Mrs Reed is thankful that with modern treatment she has a good chance of escaping the suffering her sisters went through in the 1970s.

She believes it is important for people with cancer to "keep cheerful and think positive".

"Lots of people are cured but they never tell you about that," she said.

"Women should also be positive about breast surgery because it would be so much easier for them. They should look at people like me."

She said she was happy to lose her hair for a while and had dug out her favourite head gear - a woollen turban - to wear until her hair grows again.

" I suppose I am considered lucky with my hair.

"But I didn't think so when I was at school. They called me gingernut."

"We think our hair might be curly when it grows again so think of all the perms it will save!"

Ann, who lives at home with her parents, said: "I think my mum is mad but she is also wonderful. We are close and it will really help me to keep my spirits up".

Mrs Reed was also praised by Kemp Hospice fund-raiser Christine Tober: "She is a very brave lady and a beacon to all the people that come through horrendous times and want to help others."

Anyone who would like to sponsor Mrs Reed should contact Kemp Hospice on 01562 865105 or Mrs Reed on 01299 403255.