A charity which provides hair treatments and wigs for cancer sufferers was dealt a body blow in February when crooks broke in and made off with a £5,000 haul of stock and equipment.

But after a front page report in the Comet the community rallied around Cancer Hair Care, based in Stevenage’s Old Town, and within weeks donations meant that the good cause had more than recouped what was lost.

And support has continued to flow in, with £100 raised at an Irish Network Stevenage afternoon social the latest donation. Cancer survivor and trustee Marion Mason gave a heartwarming acceptance speech, telling members of the hard work the charity does and just how far £100 goes.

INS is a regular supporter of the cause, with members knitting ‘upside down dolls’ to help children suffers understand the process and meaning of hair loss and hair gain.