A widow from Suffolk who lost her husband to a brain tumour is looking forward to hosting a charity fundraiser with an April Fool's Day twist.
Barbara Shaw’s husband Colin died in August 2010, aged 71, just 12 months after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma (GBM).
Ever since then the grandmother-of-five, from Blundeston, near Lowestoft, has supported the charity Brain Tumour Research.
Mrs Shaw, who is also a parish councillor, WI vice president and churchwarden, said: "We stopped to have lunch in a pub after delivering Meals on Wheels one day and Colin collapsed as we were leaving.
"We found out he had suffered a seizure and had a GBM on the motor strip in his frontal lobe, which they couldn’t do anything for."
The 81-year-old lived overseas with Colin for four years during his time in the Merchant Navy and had been married to him for 47 years.
Colin Shaw. Picture: The Shaw family (Image: The Shaw family)
She and their three daughters were with him at home when he died.
"It was heartbreaking," she said.
Barbara Shaw. Picture: The Shaw family (Image: The Shaw family)
Each year, Mrs Shaw hosts Brain Tumour Research's flagship Wear A Hat Day fundraiser, which is supported by Waveney MP, Peter Aldous.
She said: "I asked him if he’d come the first time and he’s been coming ever since."
Waveney MP Peter Aldous celebrating Wear A Hat Day with Barbara Shaw and Doug Youngs. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Barbara Shaw)
Mrs Shaw added: "I’m also grateful to Doug Youngs.
"He’s from a nearby village and his wife Jean was diagnosed with a brain tumour at the same time as Colin, but hers wasn’t as aggressive and she helped with the fundraising until she died five years ago."
Wear A Hat Day events see people don hats of all shapes and sizes on the last Friday in March - but Mrs Shaw, who will be colouring her hair bright pink for the occasion, is hosting the event a day later.
It is at Blundeston Village Hall from 10am to 12.30pm on April 1 and will feature refreshments, a tombola and a bring-and-buy stall.
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