Linda’s Great Lengths

50. Linda Mayhew

 

Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008. Faced with losing her hair after chemotherapy, she received little valuable advice on how to deal with this and became determined to improve patient experience and care.

In 2010, having overcome the disease, Linda started her pioneering project Linda’s Great Lengths workshops. These are designed to bring patients, their families and carers together with experts who can advise on managing hair loss and choosing and looking after a perfect wig.

Workshops have run in London, Oxford and Leeds and there are plans to expand the project across the country. Linda and her husband Richard run the project as volunteers. Linda used her contacts in the hairdressing industry to encourage hairdressers and beauticians to volunteer. She has even created a DVD, for those unable to attend the workshops.

Prime Minister David Cameron said:

“Linda has shown tremendous courage through her fight against cancer and is now using her experience and expertise to help many other women across the country. Linda is remarkable and I am delighted to make her a Point of Light.”

Linda Said:

“Having experienced the cancer journey myself, I am fully aware of the support needs for cancer patients and their friends and carers and appreciate that the NHS must concentrate on clinical treatments as a priority.

I therefore decided to create hair loss advisory workshops to support those patients and carers, which are free to attend .The workshops are now being rolled out across the country.

I would like to thank Mr.Cameron for recognising an initiative such as mine designed to improve the life of, in this instance, those affected directly by cancer”.