A FRIEND of a teenager who died of cancer shaved her hair off to raise money for research into the disease in memory of a childhood friend.
Ashley Gubbins from Carterton decided to shave her head to raise cash for Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research after her childhood friend Jack Hatton died of blood cancer aged just 19.
The 22-year-old went under the razor on March 12 to mark Jack’s birthday and set herself a fundraising target of £500.
But she has raised more than £1,100 and is looking to make as much money as she can in memory of the friend she deeply misses.
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She said: “I decided to do this for Jack and to raise awareness of the charity. I wanted to raise £500, but now I’ve raised more than double that and I think it’s amazing.
Ashley Gubbins had her head shaved in memory of her friend Jack Hatton and to raise money for cancer research. Picture: Mark Hemsworth.
“When Jack was first diagnosed we were very young and my mum had survived cancer, and I remembered that experience and took that to be positive. It was a really tough time and I remember I just wanted to spend as much time as possible with him. We did not expect him to die. It was heart-breaking.
They were giving him the allclear and then everything went 10 steps backwards.”
Jack, a lifelong Oxford United fan, was diagnosed with leukaemia in January 2007 and underwent chemotherapy, but it returned in August 2010. He then had a stem cell transplant in November 2010, but contracted lymphoma in 2011 and died that October.
Ms Gubbins added: “My favourite memory of Jack is probably when he let me paint his toenails and do his hair.
“I have so many funny and happy memories and also of him feeling angry when Oxford United lost.
“I used to wind him up about it. If he saw me doing this, he would be laughing. I’m really proud.
“It’s just about having that support and raising awareness. It has been emotional.”
Ashley Gubbins after her head shave.
The Ruskin College student said she is on a mission to raise money and awareness for the charity.
The part-time nanny added: “My hair was shaved down to a zero and it has already started to grow back really quickly.
“I just wanted to show what it means to me and speak to people about what it is about. I asked his family and they were supportive.
“I would like to run a marathon at some point. Hopefully doing something like this will help the charity.”
To donate visit justgiving.com/Ashley-Gubbins/
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