An Angus woman has told how her late mum is inspiring her to raise cash for a cancer charity.
Mum-of-three Ashleigh Easson of Arbroath was speaking as she got her head shaved at the town’s Central Bar on Saturday night. Her mum Joan died from breast cancer at the age of 29 when she was just three.
Ashleigh, who is mum to Jake, 7, Alyssa, 4, and Ethan, 2, said the thought of turning 29 was always something that filled her with dread after what had happened to her mum.
However, she decided to mark her recent 29th birthday by embarking on a fundraising campaign for Breakthrough Breast Cancer in her mum’s memory.
Since then Ashleigh has not looked back and had already raised more than £1,000 ahead of Saturday’s head shave at the Arbroath pub.
The fundraising has given her such a bug that she’s already looking to top it next year when she turns 30.
Full-time mum Ashleigh, whose wild hair was chopped off, told The Courier: “Sadly my only memories of my mum were when she was ill.
“I know what it’s like to grow up without a mum so even if what I’m doing saves one life it will have been worth it. I feel my mum is with me all the time and she’s inspiring me to do this somehow it is fate.
“I went to a palm-reading before the head shave and the palmist told me my mum is proud of me. I felt totally different after that and it put a real spring in my step.”
When Joan died no tissue samples were taken so Ashleigh doesn’t know if she’s also at risk of developing breast cancer.
Ashleigh, who is married to Grant, continues to undergo a routine test each year as well as regular self-examination.
The mum-of-three started off by selling hand-made crafts before doing a bag pack at the town’s Asda, which raised £277.
Fundraising for the head shave has now seen her break the £1,000 barrier which will be doubled by a mystery donor.
Now she has reached £1,000 she was also given the chance to nominate someone special whose name will appear on the charity’s Challenge Wall.
Ashleigh’s mum’s name will soon be added to the wall at Breakthrough Breast Cancer’s Research Centre.
Ashleigh said she hopes that her exploits will inspire others to take up fundraising and that one day there will be a cure for the disease.
She further hopes to host an evening of mediumship and will also be taking part in a bucket shake on Dundee High Street on June 28 from 10.30am until 3pm.
Ashleigh will be joined by her mother-in-law Margaret Manby from Dundee, who is also planning to raffle a fully-furnished doll’s house for the cause.
To add a donation visit www.justgiving.com/ashleigh-easson.