An NHS cancer support worker from High Wycombe has raised £3,000 for charity after shaving her hair off.

Persia Zadeh, 26, is a Macmillan cancer worker at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Wexham Park Hospital.

She shaved her locks to raise money for the charity which helped her grandfather, who was diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer and not expected to live long.

She said: “He still talks about his Macmillan nurse and how much her advice and care meant to him and my grandma, and how she was invaluable during what was a very frightening time in their lives.

“Fortunately, thanks to advances in treatment, he has long outlasted doctors’ initial predictions.”

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Ms Zadeh said she “continues to be inspired” by the work Macmillan nurses do, adding: “Every day I’m impressed by the dedication and care of the Macmillan nurses I work with.

Bucks Free Press: PICTURED: Persia Zadeh (left) with colleague Renuka Jayasuriya at workPICTURED: Persia Zadeh (left) with colleague Renuka Jayasuriya at work

“They routinely go above and beyond for their patients despite all the additional challenges of Covid-19, and with many of them helping in other areas of the hospital in addition to their usual roles.”

Her role as a ‘cancer navigator’ involves helping patients navigate the “often complex” healthcare system throughout their treatment.

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Throughout the pandemic, Ms Zadeh and her colleague Renuka Jayasuriya have given advice on shielding, blood tests, found supermarket slots, got volunteers to help them with their shopping and medicine collection, and also relayed news about Covid-19 vaccinations.

Jemma Luker, Macmillan fundraising manager, said: “We’re so impressed and inspired by Persia. Not only has she raised a fantastic amount of money to help us do whatever it takes for people with cancer, but she also does some of that work herself, every day, with her teammate Renuka.

“The £3,000 is enough to keep a typical Macmillan information and support centre stocked with all the resources it needs to support people affected by cancer for almost a year.

“We can’t thank Persia enough.”