TWO teenage friends from Musselburgh celebrated Christmas Day by braving head shaves in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity.

University of Edinburgh students Madelaine Powell and Amy Holstead, both 19 and former pupils of Campie Primary and Musselburgh Grammar Schools, lost their locks to raise money for a gruelling desert trek to help fight brain cancer.

Madelaine, a French and politics student, will fly to Morocco in November with a group of fellow volunteers to walk 100km of the Sahara in five days in aid of The Brain Tumour Charity, after her mum’s own experience with the tumours.

With their hands numb due to the cold, the friends shaved off each other’s hair in the back garden of Madelaine’s home at Riverside Gardens, with a little help at the end from Madelaine’s dad Steve.

She later said: “It went really well. We both didn’t know what to expect so it was a really unique experience that we’re glad we shared together. We’ve both been pleasantly surprised with the outcomes but have needed to invest in some new hats!

“The amount of support we had from everyone was incredible and I can’t believe how generous people have been with donations, especially considering that the festive period can be difficult to find spare cash. It was such a lovely way to end the difficult year of 2020.”

East Lothian Courier: The girls in their long hair days!The girls in their long hair days!

Her mum Susan, 50, was diagnosed with an oligodendroglioma tumour six months after Madelaine was born and has had two brain tumours in the past 18 years.

Madelaine said the charity was a cause “extremely close to [their] hearts”, adding: “The money will go towards not only essential life-saving research but also helping to support the families who have the illness as a part of their lives.”

Madelaine will trek 13 miles a day through the desert and is starting training with visits to the gym and hikes along beaches to get used to walking in the sand.

To donate, go to justgiving.com/fundraising/madelaine-powell1