Sheffield mum-of-four braves the shave to raise money for charity

Victoria Fletcher, aged 28, candidly revealed how she left home at age 16 and was living on the streets in Worksop.

Times got so bad she overdosed on pills while living in a bedsit and ended up in hospital where medics had to revive her four times.

She managed to turn her life around and now lives happily with her husband Scott and four children in Heeley.

Victoria has now braved the shave and lopped off her long locks to raise more than £1700 for L.I.F.E. A New Beginning, which works to help vulnerable people in the community into housing, training and employment opportunities.

She had her head shaved in front of family and friends at the Pop Up Cafe in Union Street on Sunday, December 4.

She said: “We have a roof over our heads and food in our tummies, but life hasn’t always been this kind to me.

“After leaving home at 16 with nowhere to go and crashing on my friends sofas one too many times. Walking around until the early hours of the morning trying to keep warm, I’d eventually find a doorway or a bridge to sleep under.”

She added “the thoughts that go through your head at this time are unrealistic” and “they test you to your limits.”

Victoria said she now has a “happy life with my family and friends.”

She wanted to support L.I.F.E A New Beginning to help “make a difference to the hundreds of people that are where I was.

“My hair will grow back just like the homeless will get their lives back, because one step at a time we can all do it together.”

Victoria thanked everyone for their support adding: “every donation is appreciated.”

Members of the public can still donate to her online fundraising page at https://www.gofundme.com/shaveforlife For details about LI.F.E. A New Beginning visit their Facebook page.