A PHARMACIST is going to great lengths to raise money for a local charity – three feet to be exact.

Sujata Patel, a pharmacist from Bricket Wood, will soon have more than three feet of her long locks lopped off – more than 35 years since she last had her hair cut.

She has run the Springfield Pharmacy in Jersey Farm, St Albans, since 1989 and it was in 1977 that she last had a hair trim.

For friends and family it’s a bitter pill to swallow but on September 21 she’ll be showing off a new shoulder-length look when most of her hair will end up on the hairdresser’s floor.

Sujata explained: “I’ve been thinking about having it cut for the past year but I couldn’t decide on a charity. But when my husband Mukesh told me about Hertfordshire Action on Disability (HAD) I decided to raise money for them.”

Her hair will go to a cancer charity where it will be made into wigs for patients undergoing treatment.

But she admits she will still be sorry to see it go: “All my family, friends and visitors to the pharmacy think I’m mad to have it cut as they love my hair how it is. But I want to help others less fortunate than myself and HAD fit the bill as they are based locally in Welwyn Garden City and do so much good work for older and disabled people.

“They have also had all their funding cut and need all the help and money they can get.”

Sujata aims to raise at least £1,000 for HAD and to donate to her fundraising go to Justgiving.com/suehair

HAD provide a number of services for older and disabled people including mobility equipment, an accessible transport service and driving lessons and assessments. Their team of occupational therapists have recently launched a home assessment service and also a free outreach seating clinic in Hemel Hempstead as well as a clinic at their headquarters near to the QEII Hospital.

Contact 01707 384260 for more details or visit www.hadnet.org.uk