A BRAVE mum who has battled cancer no fewer than FIVE times has teamed up with friends and fellow patients to help others with the deadly disease.

Jackie Brand is currently undergoing treatment for lung and bone cancer at the Beatson.

Remarkably it is the fifth time in 15 years she has been diagnosed.

Jackie has a caravan at Wemyss Bay and is part of 'The Rainbow Girls' - a group of five caravan owners there who are all connected in some way by cancer.

Despite her illness she is still thinking of others and decided to 'brave the shave' for charity after her hair started to fall out due to chemotherapy.

She has raised over £1,500 through her hair-oic effort.

Meanwhile the fab five fundraising and support group - made up of Jackie, Marie Hutton, Carole Purdon, Annette Bigley and Linda Sutton - are also planning on holding a fundraiser at the caravan park on July 31.

Jackie, 58, told the Tele: "The Rainbow Girls have only been around for about two months, but we've already raised thousands of pounds for very worthwhile charities.

"Marie started to knit hats during lockdown and we spoke about a stall to sell them - but it's just grown from there.

"We've been doing online fundraisers as well as small things at the site.

"We have been limited due to restrictions but can't wait to do a proper event later on in the month."

The women all met at the caravan park and regularly frequent The Wemyss Bay Café and Bar, both of whom are supporting their fundraising efforts going forth.

The group split every penny raised between MacMillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and The Maggie's Centre.

They hope to add a healthy sum to the total during the fundraising event that will be held between noon and 5pm.

Jackie, whose husband Stuart, daughter Rachel and her partner Fraser, daughter Eilish and granddaughter Ava supported her head shave, chose to lose her locks whilst watching the Scotland versus England game.

She said: "We were at our friend's house in Skelmorlie, so before the kick-off I shaved my hair off, filmed it and asked people if they wanted to donate.

"People don't realise chemotherapy actually makes your hair hurt.

"It's not the first time I've shaved my head, but the first time I've done it for charity.

"I had set out to raise just a few hundred pounds, so can't believe how quickly the total climbed.

"I was totally overwhelmed with the support and was so excited every time I looked at my phone."

Her friend Marie, from Cambuslang, has been visiting Wemyss Bay with husband Jim for the past 40 years and her son sadly has terminal cancer.

She says she has been 'overwhelmed' with the local support shown for the group.

Marie told the Tele: "Every second person you see knows someone who has been affected by cancer, it's sadly very common.

"That has brought us together.

"We've created our own community at the caravan park and everyone is so supportive of what we are doing.

"Our day at the end of the month will be open to the public and we will have lots of different stalls - home baking, things for the kids, raffles, and food.

"We're all looking forward to it."

*The Rainbow Girls are happy to receive donations for the fundraising event and items can be left with Lynn Conway at the Station Café or people can send a message directly to 'The Rainbow Girls' on Facebook.