Shaving her head proved a poignant way for one daughter to remember her mum.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Joanna James's late mum, IonieJoanna James's late mum, Ionie (Image: Archant)

Joanna James decided on the stunt to raise money for Saint Francis Hospice which cared for her mum, Ionie, until she died from cancer in 2012.

The detention officer, who works in Barking, raised £670 through her efforts.

And she admitted that it made her understand more about what her mum went through.

“Every morning I get up and I have a choice about how to do my hair but you do not have that choice when cancer takes over,” Joanna said.

“Having my hair shaved was like a cleansing process and has brought me a bit closer to how my mum felt.”

The 41-year-old added that Saint Francis Hospice’s at home team made sure that her mum was always comfortable and were a great support to her grieving family.

“They were so gentle and so professional and they made such a difference,” she said.

“They made mum comfortable and enabled us to get some rest while they stayed at her bedside.”

Find out more about the hospice by visiting sfh.org.uk