SNIP: Domenica and Becky Oatley are to shave heads to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust
TEENAGE hairdresser Becky Oatley is determined to show schoolchildren that cancer is nothing to fear.
Becky, 18, of Barons Mead, Chippenham, is midway through chemotherapy treatment for lymphoid cancer, which has made her lose all of her hair.
With mum Domenica, 35, dad Dean, 42, sisters Laura, 17, Hannah, 16, and brother Dean-Daniel, 13, Becky is determined to raise awareness of the disease.
She will soon be visiting schools in the area and taking off her wig to show pupils cancer doesn't have to be scary.
On July 19 mum and daughter will also be shaving heads and waxing legs in the Emery Gate shopping centre to raise money for the Teenage Cancer Trust.
Becky said: "When I was diagnosed in March it was quite hard to take in but now I am determined to fight this thing and show others it doesn't have to be something to fear.
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"The biggest thing for me was losing my hair - as a trainee hairdresser it was my life.
"My family and boyfriend have been a tower of strength to me and they have made me see that the hair doesn't matter that much.
"I want schoolchildren to see me without a wig to see that body image is not as important as they may think."
Becky was training at the Centre Stage hairdressers in Chippenham but has had to give it up for fear of catching a potentially life-threatening infection.
Mrs Oatley paid tribute to her daughter's strength through such a traumatic time. She said: "Becky has been absolutely phenomenal - she is a 100 per cent focused on beating the cancer. When we got the news it hit the family really hard, but now we are closer than ever and getting through this with plenty of hugs and love.
"Losing her hair was such a big deal for her - she literally used to change her hairstyle every single day and to go from that to nothing was terrifying for her.
"I am letting Becky shave my hair off so that we can go through this together, I must admit I am quite nervous but if she can cope then so can I.
"For any parent to see their child go through the pain of cancer and chemotherapy is awful but you just stand beside them, hold their hand and go through it with them."
Mother and daughter will be at Emery Gate from 10am on July 19 and all money raised will go to the Teenage Cancer Trust.
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