A WOMAN has completed the brave act of shaving off her long locks to honour her friend who lost his life to suicide. 

27-year-old Maya Holligan, from Haverthwaite, is raising money for Cumbrian mental health charity Every Life Matters as well as donating the hair to alopecia charities.

She chose the head shave as she suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome and is unable to do charity work or events.

Maya currently lives in New Zealand and lost her close friend Laurie, who lived not far from her in North Cumbria, when she was in the UK.

Their two families were close however she described Laurie as 'outgoing and hidden' at the same time.

She chose the gesture as she realised after the death of her friend that she had 'grown complacent' when it came to matters of mental health and that the head-shaving would be a 'reminder' to be herself everyday. 

Now that she's done it, Maya has no regrets and has hit her fundraising target of £2,100.

She said: "It is all done now. I'm surprised I thought it would be really hard and scary but it actually went really well and I am so happy with it. I feel more myself."

Donations are still being taken at the fundraiser via the Go Fund Me page.