A GROUP of sixth formers at Pershore High School organised a sponsored event this week to raise money and also to pay tribute to two friends who died of cancer last year.

Eight teenagers from the school took a trip to UK Barber Shops in Pershore on Sunday, to have their heads shaved in order to raise money for the Young Persons Unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

The group has so far managed to raise around £1000 but expect more to roll in when all the sponsorship money has been collected, including that of the barbers who were also raising money all of last week.

Their two friends Sophie Mcgorrigan and Ben Woodcock were both in their first year of sixth form when their lives were tragically cut short by the disease and it is hoped that the money raised will improve other teenagers chances of recovering from cancer.

Sixth form student Beth Spurr said: "We have already raised a lot of money for the hospital but we will hopefully be getting even more soon.

"We decided to help out the unit which does such good work for teenagers all over the country and also as a lasting memory of Sophie and Ben who we will never forget."

The Young Persons Unit at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital that stands to benefit from the fundraiser treats young people with a range of serious complaints and serves cancer victims with courses of Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy.