A CLOSE friend of a Halesowen cancer survivor took the plunge to have her head shaved to raise more than £500 for research into the disease.

Brave mum-of-two Elaine Ingram lost her locks last Friday in aid of the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.

Her proud friend Karen Shepherd, aged 47, who suffered hair thinning during her chemotherapy said: “I think what she did was amazing – I couldn’t have done it.”

Miss Ingram, aged 48, from Bartley Green, who works in administration, is refusing to wear a wig and is even planning a holiday sporting her new look.

Miss Shepherd, who also has two daughters, aged 17 and 15, was diagnosed with lung cancer in July 2012.

“It was totally devastating – you think that’s the end,” she said.

But she survived after undergoing surgery to remove half her left lung and chemotherapy.

The legal secretary added: “I feel very lucky, it was caught early. Lung cancer does not have a high survival rate – in fact it’s one of the worst.”

Anyone who wants to add a donation can do so at www.justgiving.com/elaine-ingram1 or text WMCO59 £1 to 70070