Jennings SEAT's sales administrator takes part in sponsored head shave for brave little Ruby

July 11, 2012 - PRLog -- Yvonne Ruffles, 36, from Middlesbrough, who works as a sales administrator at the Jennings SEAT car dealership on Cargo Fleet Lane in Teesside, volunteered to take part in the head shave at a recent charity fun day which was organised by Redcar Mums, Sammy Butters and Hayley Atkinson to raise funds for 2-year-old, Ruby Hodgson, who is also from Redcar.

When Ruby was diagnosed with a malignant ependymoma brain tumour at the age of 18 months, it turned her life and that of her family upside down.

In addition to a five-hour operation, Ruby has also been undergoing fortnightly sessions of gruelling chemotherapy at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI).

Ruby is expected to have her final dose of treatment in September, which is when the family will find out if the treatment has worked as hoped.  

Ruby’s mum, Sally, 36, and Dad, Wayne, 37, were delighted when they found out a charity fun day was being organised with the aim to raise money for Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) and the North of England Children’s Cancer Research (NECC).

Sally and Wayne, also have a son Daniel, 16, and daughter Emily, 12.

Sally Hodgson, said; “We are absolutely delighted with the extremely kind and generous support we have received from everyone, in particular, Sammy and Hayley, who were responsible for co-ordinating the fun day event and Yvonne, who was very brave to agree to the head shave.”

The charity fun day took place at Redcar Rugby Club and consisted of band, dance groups, cake and craft stalls, raffles, facepainting, men’s waxing and Yvonne’s head shave.

Yvonne, said; “I met Ruby and her Mum, Sally, through Dance Wild, a local dancing school my daughter, Sarah Beth, attends.  All of the children and parents are very close - we’re like one big happy family.  When I found out about the charity fun day, I wanted to do something daring that would raise a lot of money for Ruby.  We’re all so close, it felt like I was raising money for one of my own children.”  

Whilst having her head shaved, Yvonne, managed to raise just under £170 from a bucket collection and she has also raised hundreds of pounds through sponsorship from family, friends and work colleagues.

Yvonne added; “I’ve still got sponsorship forms to collect, but so far the total is exceeding £600, which is fantastic.

“Shaving my hair off is nothing compared to what little Ruby and her family are going through - I would do it all again, but my hair will have to grow a bit first!”

The grand total raised at the charity day event is still being counted, but it is estimated to be thousands of pounds, thanks to generous support from family, friends and members of the public who attended the event.

If you would like to make a donation visit http://justgiving.com/Ruby-Hodgson for details.