Hannah Schmidt, 35, is a mum of three boys and the family lives in Salisbury. In December 2020, she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), but she has been showing signs and symptoms since 2015.
She would need chemotherapy to ease her condition and she thought since she was going to lose her hair anyway she would shave it off for charity. So on Wednesday, January 15, she had her head shaved at the Hair Extension Cave on Silver Street.
Before her head was shaved Hannah said: “I tried a number of treatments but unfortunately they haven’t been able to help control my MS. I was offered the chance to undergo a trial at Southampton Hospital.
“I was chosen to have a disease-modifying drug which was one path of the trial without success. The other path of the trial which is Stem Cell Replacement Therapy.
“This is where I have chemotherapy and my stem cells removed and treated and then returned to me to hopefully restart my immune system and help to slow or even pause my MS regression as at this moment in time there isn’t a cure for MS.”
Hannah before she braved the shave (Image: Spencer Mulholland) Owner of the Hair Extension Cave, Molly Cook said: “I had a couple of consultations with Hannah about the possibility of getting a wig after her treatment. When she asked if I would shave her head for charity, I was delighted.”
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The day of the shave was a special one as Hannah arrived at the Cave accompanied by her mum, Corrine Gowman, and two friends for support.
Molly and her team prepared her hair and Hannah decided she wanted to cut some bits off herself. After the long bits were cut, they were bagged up for Hannah to take home and give to her three-year-old son, who loved to brush her hair.
Molly and the team finished up the job and gave Hannah’s head a clean and a massage, which was followed by applause and some emotional onlookers.
Hannah cutting her hair off (Image: Spencer Mulholland) READ MORE: Man attempting to break running marathon with fridge record
One of those onlookers was her mum, Corrine, who said: “I am so proud of her. She has been so confident throughout the whole process and has taken charge of her situation, which is amazing to see.
“Hannah’s dad has also got MS, so they sometimes take notes from each other. I sometimes help out with the boys when she is struggling with her symptoms, so she has got an amazing support group around her.”
Hannah’s sister-in-law, Becs Marchant, will also be shaving her head in support, ahead of Hannah’s chemotherapy which starts at the end of January.
Hannah is raising money for Multiple Sclerosis Trust, who help people who suffer from the condition and she has already raised over £1,600.
To donate to the amazing cause and to support Hannah and her family you can do so on her JustGiving page HERE.