SCHOOLGIRL Eloise Lovesey has raised more than £1,400 in three days with a promise to shave her waist-length hair in support of her mother, who has breast cancer.

The 12-year-old Royal Wootton Bassett Academy pupil has vowed to shave her head in April in order to raise money for Breast Cancer Care and support her mother, who will be in the midst of chemotherapy at the time.

The Just Giving page for the fundraiser was launched on Tuesday, with the total just nudging past £1,400 from 82 donations when the Adver went to press last night.

All the money raised will go to the breast cancer support charity, whilst Eloise’s hair will also be donated, to Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides real hair wigs for children suffering hair loss.

Eloise’s mother, Hayley 36, of Briars Close, Royal Wootton Bassett, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer on December 17.

“She was mostly upset about the fact I’m going to lose my hair,” said Hayley about her daughter’s reaction to the news of her diagnosis.

“She was initially quite upset thinking about it herself and she thought she could shave her hair as well.

“This is her way of dealing with what she’s going through.

“She is so brave and I am very proud of her.”

Hayley discovered a lump on her breast on November 25 and quickly reported it to her GP.

She was the referred to Great Western Hospital for a mammogram on December 10.

A week later Hayley received her diagnosis.

When the news was delivered she immediately thought on how she would tell her five children, Joshua, 14, Eloise, Jaxson, nine, Lewis, seven, and Isaac, five.

“The GWH were fantastic. They gave me lots of information to help with telling the children,” she said.

“They said I had caught it really early, so my chances are really good.”

Hayley had surgery to remove the lump on January 10. The surgery was a success according to doctors, and she will now have six chemotherapy sessions in 18 weeks, beginning late February.

“I am a lot more relieved now I know the cancer itself is gone, but I’m just scared of what chemo’s going to be like,” she said.

No date of place has been set for Eloise’s headshave yet, although April 4 has been pencilled in.

It is subject to change, depending on Hayley’s condition during chemotherapy.

A location is proving trickier. A school assembly had been the initial plan, but Hayley said RWB Academy had already assigned content to each of its assemblies for the coming months.

Alternatives at the moment may be an evening party in Royal Wootton Bassett or a private function with family and friends.

To donate money to Eloise’s cause visit the website www.justgiving.com/eloise headshave.