An Angus mum who has raised more than £100,000 for cancer research says she has not had second thoughts about giving up her charity exploits.
Mum of two Lorna Kydd, 51, has been fundraising for the past 41 years but this year’s Cancer Research UK Relay for Life in Arbroath will be her last.
Lorna, who lives in the town and works in the office at Warddykes Primary School, underwent a full hysterectomy and a double mastectomy to save her life in 2009 as she has a cancer gene and both of her parents died of the disease.
Her husband had testicular cancer 10 years ago and was lucky to survive.
Sadly, her father died of prostate cancer seven years ago and she also watched her mother battle ovarian cancer before she died four years ago.
Lorna’s family has been touched by cancer ever since she can remember and she began raising money for cancer charities at the age of just 10.
With a month to go until the big day, Lorna said she has no regrets about deciding to call it a day after the Arbroath event on September 20 and 21.
“Things are going really well at the moment but it hasn’t made me think twice about my decision,” she said.
“I’m definitely retiring from it all this year but I’m going out with a bang, as they say.
“So far we have raised £4,000 and £2,500 of that was for my head shave which is growing back at a fair speed.”
Lorna has been married to Graham for 33 years and they have two children, Charlene and Allan.
Lorna’s friends Linda Cook and Marie Church recently turned her hair from black to blonde with a rainbow on the top of her head.
All her newly-coloured hair was shaved off to raise funds for the Relay for Life and she admits the short look did not initially go down too well with her family.
She said: “Everyone is getting excited for the relay this year as this is our last and the buzz with the other 31 teams is brilliant.
“I’ve still got a few ideas left for more fundraising and of course there is also what we can raise on the day. My family took really bad with my short haircut my husband thought I looked like a convict.
“I also went to my first football match at Aberdeen for a few years and my children were a wee bit apprehensive but we got through it no problem,
“I think if people didn’t know me they probably just thought I had cancer and was on treatment. Have enjoyed having very short hair. I get five minutes longer in my bed in the morning as it doesn’t need dried and styled. “I’m really looking forward to having time to myself in my retirement but no doubt I will help somebody out in the future if needed.”
To give cash to Lorna’s challenge go to www.justgiving.com/Lorna-Kydd.