Roslyn Simmons has been growing her hair for 12 years, but will soon be bald. She’s happy about that. The first thing she plans to do when her hair is gone is go down to the ocean, plunge underwater and revel in not having to worry about messing up her locks.

Ms Simmons, the Unit Assistant in the Intensive Care Unit at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, is cutting off her hair to help raise money for cancer charity PALS.

“I haven’t told too many people yet,” Ms Simmons said. “I just decided last week to definitely do it. I have a cousin who is being treated for colon cancer and she is losing her hair. I said I would go bald with her.”

Ms Simmons said she has had several family members helped by PALS including her father and mother.

“I have had so many family members come up with cancer,” said Ms Simmons. “Some have passed away and some are still with us. I wanted to help PALS in whatever way I could because they have helped my family members so much. PALS nurses come to the house, no charge, help with the patient and get things that you need for the patient.”

She said her family has developed strong bonds with the PALS nurses who have helped them over the years, including Joanne Armstrong who helped her mother through a battle with cervical cancer.

“My mother has been gone for 17 years now,” said Ms Simmons. “My father was a friend of Ann Smith Gordon, (president and chief executive of PALS). Years ago she helped him. There are a lot of charities out there, but because I have seen what PALS has done with my family, in particular, I want to help them.”

She plans to cut off her hair on September 24 to coincide with Wacky Hair Day at PALS. She has never had short hair before.

“I am looking forward to short hair,” she said. “It will actually be kind of freeing. I am a little nervous about it, but my friends keep reassuring me that I will look great.”

Ms Simmons would like to donate her hair to a charity overseas, but is still researching the process. She hasn’t yet chosen a hair salon to do the deed.

“If someone wants to take it on I would be happy, but otherwise I’ll just do it myself,” she said.

Ms Gordon, of PALS, said the organisation was grateful to Ms Simmons for remembering PALS in this way.

“It must be a huge step for her to cut her locks after so many years of growing her hair,” said Ms Gordon. “We in PALS do not sit back and expect everyone to support us. We are constantly fund raising and trying to think of new ways to raise funds in order to care for our many cancer patients, but we cannot do it alone.

“We have had as many as 148 new admissions to our service in one year. During the last year our expenses exceeded income by almost $1,000 a day. Every contribution given to support Roslyn in her huge effort is appreciated more than I can say.”

To make a donation to the cause, Ms Simmons said people should contact PALS directly at 236-7257 or e-mail pals@northrock.bm, or they can call Ms Simmons at 335-9020. For more information see www.pals.bm