Stagecoach South driver raises more than £1,700 for Macmillan after "Brave the Shave" fundraiser
Stagecoach South bus driver Benita Durant has raised more than £1,700 for Macmillan Cancer Support after bravely shaving her head ahead of treatment for breast cancer.
Benita, who has worked at Stagecoach South’s Portsmouth depot for 16 years, received her diagnosis just days before Christmas 2025 following a routine mammogram she booked herself. Despite the devastating news, Benita, who was born and raised in Portsmouth, has approached her diagnosis with remarkable strength and positivity.
Surrounded by her close-knit family and work community, Benita chose to take part in Brave the Shave to raise funds and awareness for Macmillan. The emotional moment took place aboard a bus at the Portsmouth depot, an environment central to Benita’s life for nearly two decades.
In a familiar moment for Benita, she boarded the bus not to connect local communities together, but to Brave the Shave and support an important cause.
Her connection to Stagecoach runs deep; her daughter Charlotte Weston has been a driver for 11 years, her husband Kevin Durant has worked for the company for 10 years, her son Jace Samways works as an Engineering Cleaner, her son-in-law Brian Weston is also a driver, and her youngest daughter, Ruby, now nearing her teenage years, joined her onboard to show support and cut her mum’s ponytail during the shave. Benita and Kevin, at the time both drivers at the Portsmouth depot, first met in 2018 and married in 2023. Kevin Durant is now a Commercial Officer at Stagecoach South.
Benita initially set a fundraising target of £200, but as of 9 February 2026, she has exceeded £1,700, with donations continuing to come in.
Colin Ashcroft, Operations Manager at Stagecoach South, said: “Benita is a shining example of how important it is for all of us to come together and support each other. I am beyond proud of how Benita and her friends and family have rallied together, and here at the Portsmouth depot, we will continue providing support to her and all of our employees.”
Marc Reddy, Managing Director of Stagecoach South, added: “This incredible act of support, kindness and awareness is truly heartwarming. Stagecoach South is here to fully support Benita every step of the way. I have the utmost respect for the fundraising she has achieved, and we all wish her the very best on her journey.”
Reflecting on her diagnosis and fundraising, Benita said: “It’s not about the money, it’s about making sure people go and get themselves checked. I lost my dad to lung cancer in 2018, and catching my diagnosis early is such an important reminder that this can affect anyone. The support I’ve received has been amazing, and I wanted to give something back to people who need it.”
Benita’s fundraising page remains open. To support her journey and donate to Macmillan Cancer Support, please click here.