Cheryl Righelato (centre) gets to work on Ms O’Brien’s hair at The Green Man pub

A CHARITY worker has had her hair shaved off to raise funds for London’s Air Ambulance and the family of a man who was stabbed to death in Upper Street.

More than 30 friends and family of knife victim Jonathon “JJ” McPhillips gathered at The Green Man pub in Essex Road for the fundraising event on Tuesday, which raised £400.

Alice O’Brien, 57, who has known JJ’s mother Michelle McPhillips for 40 years, said she was happy to lose her hair.

“We are all members of a family,” she added. “Friends should all support each other.”

Alice O’Brien with her blonde curls

JJ was fatally attacked in February when a group of around six youths rushed at the 28-year-old and his friends. Ms McPhillips says she is indebted to the air ambulance crew for prolonging his life long enough for his family to say goodbye. No one has been charged in connection with the killing.

Ms McPhillips was brought to tears as JJ’s eldest daughter Lexi and young relatives took the scissors to Ms O’Brien’s blonde curls.

“I can’t believe someone would do that for me,” she said. “It’s personal to take your hair off. It’s a very brave step forward and it was her suggestion.

“I haven’t cried in public since JJ died.”

Ms O’Brien after the cut with Deano Donaghey, a young relative of Jonathon ‘JJ’ McPhillips

Ms O’Brien worked at Richard Cloudesly School in Whitecross Street and various other charities supporting children with special needs before being diagnosed with cancer around seven years ago.

In an emotional speech read out after the hair-cut, Ms McPhillips said she was determined to find her son’s killers and to spread awareness of knife crime.

“I will keep up the fight for young life on our streets, and to help put an end to this, because my JJ did not die in vain,” she added.

“His life will be remembered because somewhere, some day, someone will turn to me and say, ‘because of your campaign I was saved’,” she said.

Police launched a fresh CCTV appeal last month to find JJ’s killers. Anyone with information is urged to contact the incident room on 020 8345 3775, or to give information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.