A CANCER patient has had her head shaved as part of efforts to help her community choir celebrate its 10th anniversary in style.

Colliers Wood Chorus is aiming to stage a production of King Arthur in spring next year and will be fundraising for the show.

Shirley Cowton, kicked off the fundraising efforts on July 11 by shaving her head, raising more than £1,000 through a JustGiving page and cash donations. The choir will split the money raised evenly between production costs and St Raphael’s Hospice, where Ms Cowton receives treatments for cancer.

Ms Cowton said: “I actually wanted to do a parachute jump to raise money for the cause, but my GP said it was out of the question.”

A barber from The Hair Room, on High Street in Colliers Wood, manned the shears during the shave, which took place at the MertonVision Guardian Centre.

Christopher Killerby, musical director for the choir, said: “As he was preparing Shirley, the choir sang upbeat songs to keep the spirits high, but the moment the scissors cut through her long plait the room went silent. It was quite magical.”

Other fundraising efforts include a Smarties-tube campaign, where members of the chorus were given Smarties tubes that they will attempt to fill with 20p coins, which would total to £13 each tube. The choir is also hosting prize drawings and a wine tasting event at the Charles Holden pub.

King Arthur will be the group’s most ambitious project to date, according to Mr Killerby, and will be the first where the members are performing in a show as more than a background choir. The group will release more information once details including the venue have been finalized.