A GRIEVING Ainsworth mum has marked the 10th anniversary of her daughter’s death from cancer by raising money for the hospice which cared for her.

Thanks to a sponsored head shave and a raffle, Sharon Williams has collected in £800 which will go towards the Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley.

In March, 2004, her eightyear- old daughter Dana Carroll, who had captured the hearts of local people, lost her battle with the illness.

The youngster had originally been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer two years earlier.

People were so touched by her courage that they supported an appeal to send Dana and her family to Disneyland Paris. The appeal raised £22,000, with Whitefield- based firefighters, helped by their Bury colleagues, bringing in £10,000 of the total. Mrs Williams, aged 43, who has five other children, had her head shaved at her home in Rosebank Close, while friends and family looked on. The shave was carried out by Paula Cooke of Bury-based Hair Especially 4U.

On the poignancy of her fundraising, Mrs Williams said: “It’s 10 years since my daughter died. I decided to get my head shaved as I didn’t know what else to do.

Dana lost her hair twice due to chemotherapy and I thought this was the most appropriate thing to do.

Dana had respite care at Derian House.

“I was sponsored for the head shave while the people at Slimming World in Elton helped me with a raffle to raise funds. Obviously, it’s an emotional time but I tend to celebrate what we have rather than what we haven’t got,” she added.

She added: “The head shave took about 10 minutes to complete. It’s cold now, but I feel quite liberated. It will soon grow back.

“I’d like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated. I’m so grateful for every penny.”