May 13, 2022 9.28 am This story is over 22 months old

Dancer ‘braves the shave’ to raise £1.5k for Macmillan before Lincoln Cathedral show

She will appear in the Hunchback of Notre Dame
Katie Byford will be performing in the Hunchback of Notre Dame later this month, but before that she braved the shave for charity. | Photo: Richard Hall FRPS
By Local Democracy Reporter

A dance student at the University of Lincoln, who will be performing in the upcoming Hunchback of Notre Dame production at the cathedral, has braved the shave to raise more than £1,500 for Macmillan Cancer Support.

Katie Byford is a masters student in dance at the University of Lincoln, and has landed a role as one of the principal dancers in the Hunchback of Notre Dame – a theatre production arriving at Lincoln Cathedral later this month.

Ahead of the production’s launch, Katie decided to embark on a charity challenge for a cause close to her heart, by shaving her head to raise funds and awareness for leading cancer charity Macmillan.

Katie sacrificed her long hair in the name of charity. | Photo: Richard Hall FRPS

She braved the shave outside the Lincoln Performing Arts Centre and has so far raised £1,550 for Macmillan, which has previously helped a member of Katie’s family. Visit and donate to the fundraiser here.

How Katie’s hair looks now! | Photo: Richard Hall FRPS

Katie said she understood how daunting it must be for someone to lose their hair, and she hopes that this act of solidarity can help bring someone joy, though she did concede that it was very chilly with no hair!

Katie raised more than £1,500 for Macmillan with the charity chop. | Photo: Richard Hall FRPS

Katie has been fully supported by her fellow cast members at the Starring Lincoln Theatre Company, as they prepare for the curtain raising opening night at Lincoln Cathedral on May 23.