A MARTIAL arts coach is shaving off all her hair in a show of solidarity with those who are suffering from cancer.
Amanda Kari, 47, aims to raise cash for Macmillan Cancer Support.
The charity are challenging men and women to shave their heads in as a part of their Brave the Shave campaign.
Amanda is a personal trainer, sports nutritionist and kick boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu coach at the Voodoo Gym on Chestergate, Macclesfield.
Amanda’s late husband Frank Caudwell died from a brain tumour in April 2013.
She said patients and carers need all the support they can get.
She added: “It was the hardest experience of my life seeing Frank through those final months.
“I gave up working to look after him and was by his side until the very end.
“Until you go through that you don’t realise how much support you need and how much there is out there.”
Every year since Frank’s death Amanda has raised money to fight cancer including a Three Peaks walk. In December 2014 Amanda married best-friend and work colleague Dave Kari and at their wedding asked for gift donations to The Christie.
Amanda said her latest fundraising challenge is her most daring.
She added: “It is a frightening thing to do, but I thought ‘who cares’, it is something different and it is showing solidarity to those people who lose their hair during chemotherapy.
“I won’t be wearing any hats or headscarves, I’ll be showing off my hair cut proudly.”
Amanda is planning to cut off all her hair at the gym on August 23 at 5pm.
She is taking donations at the gym as well as online at the website: bravetheshave.org.uk/shavers/amanda-kari.
Anyone who donates £10 or more will be allowed to chop a bit of Amanda’s hair off.
Dave and Amanda run the Voodoo Gym, which was launched in 2008.
In the last seven years it has gone from strength to strength and is now a full time job for the couple.
Dave’s martial arts experience began more 30 years ago when he trained in traditional Japanese, Korean karate Muay Thai and American-style kickboxing and Wado Ryu karate.
