A TADCASTER woman who has survived two brushes with cancer has pledged to help other fighting the disease by organising a charity hair cut.

On Monday Ruth Maclean, 36, will have her almost waist length hair chopped off for the Little Princess Trust, who will use the hair to make a wig for a child going through cancer treatment.

Ruth, who lives in Ulleskelf with her 16-year-old son Dan, also wants to raise cash for the charity and has set a target of £350 - the price of the cheapest real hair wig available to buy.

She chose to help the charity after she was successfully treated for cervical cancer nine years ago, and after a bowel cancer scare that saw her rushed into hospital for urgent tests just months ago.

Ruth said: "My grandad died of bowel cancer and both my Nan and Dad have had it but survived, because they knew the signs."

After getting the all clear for bowel cancer, she decided she wanted to help in whatever way she could.

Ruth said: "It's bad enough having cancer and losing your hair as an adult when you have some understanding of it, but for a child it must be so scary.

"I was lucky and I never lost my hair, so I thought this was something I could do for others.

"I am getting scared about having my hair cut but I am not even going to lose it all."

Ruth's hair will have to be cut in a ponytail and carefully bound and labelled to be sent to the charity if it is to be used in making a wig. After that, the hairdresser will have to "salvage what they can" to create a new hairstyle for Ruth, she added.

Ruth's online fundraising page it as www.justgiving.com/ruthmaclean.