IT was a close shave for Clo Bell on Sunday as she said goodbye to her hair to raise money for a friend’s charity trek in Peru.

Laura Burgess, from Wisbech, has had to raise �3,700 in order to hike the 26-mile Inca Trail for MacMillan Cancer Support, in memory of her mother.

But she is now ready to pack her bags after kind-hearted Clo donated her hair to the cause at a party which raised more than �1,100.

Laura said: “Sunday was brilliant. We had lots of people come along and we still have sponsorship money to come.

“We had hundreds of cakes on sale and a massive raffle. Thank you to all the businesses who donated prizes and helped on the day.”

Laura chose to support the MacMillan trek in a tribute to her mother, who died from leukaemia last year. Clo, who works for the Care Agency UK, was one of the carers who looked after Laura’s mum while she was ill.

Laura said that the money raised at the funeral of Irene Cutler, another woman cared for by Clo, had also been donated by Irene’s son.

The fundraiser also thanked Leverington Social Club, who provided the venue for free, Curtis Woods, who provided a free disco, and Lisa, from Clippers, who shaved Clo’s hair.

Laura will be joined by fellow Fenland youth workers Vicki Wright and Alice Goose for the Peru hike, which takes place later this month.

Vicki has also been busy fundraising with a ‘Fantastic Fitness Afternoon’ raising more than �1,000. The cash takes Vicki’s total to �4,734 - and now she’s after �5,000.

She said: “The afternoon couldn’t have gone ahead without the support of Hannah Dawson, the guys from Finesse Personal Training and all the very mad people who came along and put themselves through a gruelling four hours of exercise for Macmillan.”

To donate, visit the youth workers’ fundraising websites: www.justgiving.com/vicki-wright www.justgiving.com/Alice-Goose www.justgiving.com/Laura-Burgess3