Log In

Reset Password

‘More women taking part is a sort of snowballing effect’

Ann Steel, 26, pictured with her child, was moved to take part in St Baldrick's charity shave after she learnt of the many children suffering from cancer. Rather than wait for tragedy to strike her family - she took action.

Ann Steel never thought she was brave enough to shave her head for cancer fundraiser St Baldrick’s.But after her second child was born she said it suddenly struck her that taking part would mean giving other children a chance at a healthy life.The 26-year-old homemaker decided not to wait until tragedy hit her own family and circle of friends and was determined to put all her effort into raising cash for the event.Mrs Steel has set a goal to raise $2,000, but hopes to surpass this.“Every little bit counts,” she said. She is one of more than a dozen women taking part in this year’s shave on March 18 at the Bermuda Athletics Association (BAA) Club House in Pembroke.“I think more women taking part is a sort of snowballing effect”, she said, adding that once a few women step up and take part, others begin to think they can do it too.“I think it’s important for women to be role models for other women and girls, and this is a prime opportunity to show women that it truly does not matter what you look like, but what you achieve in life does.”She said the selfless act would teach other women to hold their head high, no matter what they look like.And while she is worried about being bald and how people may view her, she said the rewards outweigh all of those concerns.“Honestly, I am very worried about losing my hair a lot of the time. I am not vain by any means, but I think for any woman your hair is just an important part of how you see yourself.“I worry about how people may view me and most of all I worry that my boys will be upset about my bald head, especially my youngest who is not yet old enough to understand the meaning of it and may not recognise me at first.“But then I remind myself about how temporary this is and that the pride I will feel will outshine any worries I have about my appearance.”She encourages the public to give anything they can in support of the cause.“There will never be a better time. Times are tough for a lot of people financially, but there will always be something else you can imagine spending that money on and if you don’t make the commitment now, will you really ever?”