My nan loved her hair, not once did i ever see her without it looking clean and nourished and well looked after, never a grey hair in sight.

When my nan was first diagnosed with lung cancer, it was already clear that she was going to die. The cancer was spreading very quickly. Macmillan cancer support looked after my nan, from the beginning right through to the end. Simple things like doing her shopping for her and doing bits and bobs around the house. She was given a few months to live, depending on whether she opted for chemo or not. She knew if she had chemo she would lose all of her hair and she could not stand the thought of it. She knew that it would make her very very ill and she was already terminally ill, so instead of going through the pain in order to get better, she knew she wouldn't get better and she knew it was the end, it was her time to go. She knew that if she did go through chemo, it would make her life that little bit longer, although we were still talking only months.

Macmillan nurses stood by my nan whatever her decision, although they tried their very best to persuade her to go to hospital and have treatment, even when she refused, even when she carried on smoking knowing full well she only had months to live, they didn't give up on her.

They made her last few months that little bit easier, they fought the battle along beside her and made her feel comfortable, right up until the night she passed away, although i knew it was going to happen some point, i was still very shocked, it was all over so soon and i know that she went peacefully and that she wasn't in pain anymore, i know it was the best thing for her.

She passed away on the 7th september 2006 and i know she would be very proud of me. She was my bestfriend, my nana and she was such a kind, warm hearted person, she always knew the right thing to say. I never got to say goodbye as i was only 9 years old and wasn't allowed to the funeral, but i know she'll be looking down on me.

I have not only lost my nan to cancer, but also a lot of other relatives. I have had this throughout my life and this year on the 1st of July i ran the race for life 10k and raised £80 for cancer research uk.

I am also hoping to be raising awareness of Psoriasis. Psoriasis is a rare skin condition, similar to eczema, but a lot worse. The skin cells grow very quickly meaning the affected area sheds, and flakes off. It can also scab over and cause sore patches, causing itchiness and irritation, and bleeding. I have had this skin condition since i was about 4 years old and it is incureable and barely treatable. It mainly affects my scalp although as a child i had it all over my body. In primary school i used to get bullied for this condition, because i have it on my scalp, instead of asking questions, people assume it is dandruff or headlice  and for years and years people took the mickey out of me. When it flakes off it does look like dandruff, but it worsens by stress and by people saying nasty comments it made it worse and so it was a neverending cycle. If it was on any other part of my skin, as bad as it is on my scalp, i would be able to treat it with cream, but because it is on my scalp i find certain hair products irritate it and my scalp bleeds and sheds more. I probably shouldn't dye my hair as much as i should, but with a dark colour hair it shows my psoriasis and so i dye my hair a lot so people don't notice, i am really self concious of it.

I am shaving my hair, not just for these purposes but for my own personal benefit. I have been bullied nearly all of my school life and I have also been battling with family loses at home.

My nan didn't want to lose her hair because she loved it so much and i love my hair so much which is why i am shaving it all off for her, because she was too scared to lose it. The fact that i have a skin condition on my scalp has made it 10 times harder to come to terms with this decision but with all your support i can help overcome those people who made comments about it and i can help people understand more about the condition and help raise as much money as i can for Macmillan cancer support.

I don't have a date yet, but it will definitely be in march 2013 either the 2nd or the 16th. Your money really can make a difference and help support Macmillan in order for them to support cancer sufferers and their families when going through the extremely difficult time.