Cheyra Bell was as “happy as a kid on Christmas Day” after she shaved off her dreadlocks in aid of the St Baldrick’s Foundation.

The charity is a not-for-profit organisation that raises funds to help find cures for children with cancer.

Ms Bell, who has so far raised $15,000, had been growing her locks for 15 years but felt inspired to give back in some way.

She told The Royal Gazette: “I absolutely love kids. I have never encountered a child who has suffered from childhood cancer, but I absolutely love them and feel like if I was in that position I would want to know that someone was doing all that they could to help me.”

Asked how she felt after losing so much hair, she added: “I feel amazing. I woke up like a kid on Christmas — I felt what the pillow material felt like and I was so excited. I feel empowered and I feel happy that I was able to embark on such a huge journey in losing something that I have known for so long but still be able to love myself for who I am.

“People often look to the materialistic things or features of themselves to make them who they are as a person, but I have gotten to the point that I am deeper than that — my beauty is from within.”

Ms Bell said she was inspired to volunteer for St Baldrick’s going forward.

• Donations are open until the end of the month online at stbaldricks.org/international/bchc/