A hair cut is a run-of-the-mill event for most people.

But for Alessandra Rivalta, getting rid off her shoulder-length locks was anything but mundane.

The Thornton Heath mother shaved off all her hair in memory of her best friend, Irene, who died of a brain tumour.

“We were both 15 when she was diagnosed and we thought she was going to get better, but then we found out she only had four months left to live," Miss Rivalta said.

"I was there every step of the way.

“Now I miss her every day and at each big moment in my life, I have wanted her there to talk to and share it with."

The 28-year-old mother is taking part in Macmillan Cancer Support’s Brave the Shave and to kick off the event, had celebrity photographer Rankin there to capture the moment.

“We always discussed having babies at the same time because there was only a month difference between our ages, and we wanted it to be the same for our children," Miss Rivalta said.

“It is very painful not to be able to share to share my experiences as a new mum with her and I wanted to do something in memory of her to raise money for this brilliant cause.

“The photoshoot was a very emotional day but I loved it. I think she would be proud.”

She is the first charity shaver to get in front of Rankin’s camera at his London studio for Brave the Shave – but she won’t be the last.

The photographer has snapped the likes of David Bowie, Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss and is offering aspiring charity shavers the chance to have their poignant head shave captured in his distinctive style at a one-off photoshoot on Wednesday, August 2.

The fundraiser, which totalled £7.1m last year, sees thousands of people shave all their hair off to raise money to help support people living with cancer and their families.

Macmillan fundraising manager Lisa Shorter said: “so many people who take part in Brave the Shave, like Alessandra, have really poignant and personal reasons for doing so and it is really moving to see their stories come to life in this way.

Follow this link to take part in the mass shoot, http://www.macmillan.org.uk/aboutus/news/latest_news/world-famous-photographer-rankin-launches-macmillan-campaign-with-head-shave-shoot.aspx