A MOTHER-OF-12 who is fighting cancer has spoken of her pride after one of her daughters offered to make a personal sacrifice to support her.

Christine Beadle, 53, from South Otterington, near Northallerton, North Yorkshire, was diagnosed with breast cancer six months ago and has lost her hair due to chemotherapy.

In an act of solidarity, Mrs Beadle’s daughter Hannah, 15, has pledged to shave her head to raise money for the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton, where Mrs Beadle is being treated, and to raise awareness about the difficulties cancer patients face when they lose their hair.

Hannah will be joined by her sister-in-law, Wendy Beadle, 41, who will also shave her head.

The pair will lose their hair during a charity night, which they have named Bald is Beautiful, at Hannah’s school, Bedale High School, on November 20, at 7pm.

Mrs Beadle said she was overcome after hearing what her daughter planned to do.

She said: “I said if she was sure she wanted to do it, then we shouldn’t stop her because it shows that she loves her mum and her family.

“Hannah is so beautiful and has such lovely long hair, but she said people should be more aware of cancer, especially the stigma of being bald.”

Mrs Beadle and her husband, Ray, are also parents to Katrina, 34, Marc, 33, Patricia, 29, Raymond, 27, Vicki, 26, Stephen, 23, Annette, 21, Christopher, 19, Catherine, 16, Timothy, 12 and Hayley, nine.

Mrs Beadle said: “All the statistics tell you the more children you have, the less likely you are to get cancer, but it didn’t work out that way for me.

“Telling my family I had cancer was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do, especially when I hadn’t taken it in myself.

“But the staff at the Friarage have been incredible, I can’t thank them enough.”

Several Northallerton businesses have pledged auction prizes for the Bald is Beautiful night, while six of Mrs Beadle’s children will be singing at the event.

Tickets for the event are available at the door and cost £8.