AN extreme haircut was the least one woman could do to raise money to help cancer sufferers at Prospect Hospice.

And nearly four months on, Anne Soffe is relishing her new look – not to mention the £916 she succeeded in raising – after taking the drastic step for the Adver’s 160 Appeal.

Hospice care has touched the 55-year-old’s life in more ways than one over the last few years, as well as that of her husband Mark.

While Anne’s ex-partner is being cared for by a Somerset hospice, Mark’s former companion died at Prospect.

Several of their friends and acquaintances were also looked after by the Wroughton charity in their final days.

“A head shave is something I had talked about doing for a long time and it seemed the easiest thing for me to do because I can’t do anything physical,” said Anne, of Penhill.

“I have arthritis and I had a triple hip replacement and my knees and shoulders are also going. There was no effort involved.”

And she said the experience was one should did not regret, despite the dramatic change in appearance.

“It was liberating,” she said. “I think a lot of people didn’t think I was going to go through with it, so I got a third of my donations after the head shave.

“Knowing that people I have never met and will never see will benefit from it is great.”

The resourceful pharmacy employee stopped at nothing to raise a few extra pounds for the Wroughton charity, even auctioning her ponytail on eBay for £30.

To her surprise, a doll-maker took her up on her offer and snapped up the offcuts.

“Hospices are the sort of places that give people an incentive to carry on fighting,” she said.

“Nurses are really making a difference and I wanted to do something more for Prospect.”