Mum-of-two Victoria Bailey, 40, of Cozens Harvey Road, Sprowston, also known as 'Vici' by some of her loved ones, has decided to shave her head for charity – here she explains why it's an act so close to her heart...

On the spur of the moment earlier this month, I felt inspired to shave my head for Macmillan Cancer Support.

I have often felt a wish to support the charity as I know some Macmillan nurses and I lost my grandmother, uncle, aunt and cousin to cancer so I felt a strong compulsion to raise money this way. I also have had a close friend and their family go through the cancer journey and know how vital the support Macmillan provides is.

I myself had a cancerous growth on my appendix in 1999 which changed the course of my life.

I was at the final stages of my application for officer training with the RAF. It was during the fitness test when it was discovered. It was my last chance at joining because I was at the upper age limit and I was going to work in reconnaissance and thermal imaging.

Luckily for me the operation was all it took to get rid of the cancer but it meant my dreams to join the RAF stopped and instead I ended up moving from Cheltenham to Norfolk.

Since then I have wanted to help others by raising money.

I felt that there were lots of fundraising bike rides, runs, walks and my family as a whole support many of these. I have also helped with many charity fundraising events but realised quickly that a head shave – particularly for a woman – was much more dramatic.

I have had some strange thoughts since agreeing to do this, like 'where do I stop when applying my foundation?'. For clarity, I am not just going for stubble, I am really going bald as it is the least I can do.

The friend I am doing this in support of told me he was 'humbled' by what I was doing but compared to his ongoing journey this is nothing.

My campaign is called 'Upsetting Rosie' – after my 11-year-old daughter – because at first she was horrified at my decision. But now she has seen how it is touching people she has become my campaign manager.

She has been sharing on YouTube, creating posters and is fundraising at her school.

I also have a nine-year-old son, Micah.

I have passed my original target of £200 in a week, so plan to keep increasing the target as want it to be worth it. I am now hoping to raise £300.

I plan to shave my head on August 17 but I am also acting in a play in November so the director is praying my hair grows back a little by then.

To support me you can visit www.shaveorstyle.org.uk/shavers/victoria-bailey/#description.

Have you been inspired to do something wonderful to help others? You can submit your story and pictures to us by emailing newsdesk@archant.co.uk