A Tauranga mother who was told she could not have children but gave birth to her "miracle baby" after surviving cancer has shaved her head for the third time to raise funds for cancer.
Toni O'Daly was one of two women to have her head shaved at Klassic Kuts in Goddards Shopping Centre to raise funds for the Breast Cancer Support Service Trust yesterday.
The 47-year-old was told she could not have children before she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 but now has a 6-year-old "miracle baby", daughter Erina.
"There was no time to produce eggs and because of the chemo I went into early menopause," she said.
But her cycle returned after having reflexology and stopped again after three or four months.
"I thought, 'Oh well'," she said.
But she still felt like her cycle was coming on.
"My friends told me that sort of thing can happen when you are pregnant, but I knew there was no chance of that happening."
But it did, and baby Erina was born. "She is my miracle baby."
The Tauranga mother said the Breast Cancer Support Service Trust had supported her through her nine-year journey with breast cancer and shaving her head was a way of giving back.
It is not the first time she had shaved her head. "I lost my hair through chemo and the year before I was dared to shave my lid for a brave kid. I am happy to be able to do it."
She had set a target of $750 and had so far raised over $800.
Tauranga Breast Cancer Support Trust counsellor Michelle Burling also shaved her hair for the cause ahead of Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.
"I work with the women who are diagnosed and I am just impacted by them," she said.
"This is a way of getting a better understanding of what it is like for them, acknowledging that in this context it is really different because I have a choice and they do not."
The Tauranga mother had been growing her hair from chin length for about four years. It was now almost down to her hips.
Her 12-year-old twins, Aidan and Molly Green, cut the first lock of hair which she would be donating to breast cancer women who needed it.
"My hair will grow back," she said. "It grows really fast. Until I really lose it I do not know how much it will mean to me."
Breast Cancer Support Service Tauranga Trust service manager Helen Alice said she was grateful for the women's donations and bravery.
"It is just fantastic," she said. "The Givealittle pages will be open until the end of the week."
To donate, visit www.breastcancerbop.org.nz/page/support-us or search for Michelle Burling or Toni O'Daly at givealittle.co.nz