British Heart Foundation volunteer Tracie Weeks having her hair cut and shaved for " Mending Broken Hearts Appeal " outside the shop on Castle Meadow, Norwich. Photo: Steve Adams

To most people the idea of having their head shaved, even for charity, is unthinkable.

British Heart Foundation volunteer Tracie Weeks having her hair cut and shaved for " Mending Broken Hearts Appeal " outside the shop on Castle Meadow, Norwich. Photo: Steve Adams

But for Tracie Weeks, of Bull Close Road in north Norwich, having her head shaved is an annual event.

Tracie went along to the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) furniture and electrical store in Castle Meadow last Tuesday to have the drastic hair cut, as she is hoping to raise money for BHF’s Mending Broken Hearts appeal.

The 46-year-old smiled and laughed all through her fundraising attempt but admitted beforehand that she “still gets very nervous” about the head shave, even though this her fourth time.

Tracie, who started working at the BHF store in December, said: “I thought I would do something myself to raise some awareness of the charity and vital funds.

British Heart Foundation volunteer Tracie Weeks having her hair cut and shaved for " Mending Broken Hearts Appeal " outside the shop on Castle Meadow, Norwich. Photo: Steve Adams

“I have two children; I wanted to do it for them. You never know what’s going to happen and this research can help save lives.

Tracie was given a number one cut all over and was supported by her co-workers at the store.

Ros Ward, the store’s assistant manager, said: “Tracie’s very brave; she deserves to raise a lot of money.”

Tracie had already raised nearly £100 before the head shave and with other BHF staff collecting donations from interested passers-by, the total looks set to be a lot more.

After the shave was finished Tracie added: “Thank you to everyone who sponsored me, my head’s cold, but it’s worth it!”

Alex Mayer, the BHF fundraising and volunteer manager for Norfolk, said: “Many thanks to Tracie for fundraising for the British Heart Foundation. Her support will give hope to thousands of people who have suffered from a heart attack.”

The Mending Broken Hearts appeal is aiming to fund groundbreaking research by raising £50m in order to help the hundreds of thousands of people who are affected by heart disease in the UK.

Are you doing something unusual to raise charity funds? Contact Local Life editor David Freezer on 01603 772418 or david.freezer@archant.co.uk