A CHARITABLE mother will be losing her locks to raise cash for a charity which has helped her son, who suffers from a brain malfunction.

Forty-year-old Faith Harper, of Rye Lea, Chawson, Droitwich, will be bravely undergoing the close shave - having her shoulder-length hair shorn to a number one crop - at Hairstyle in Packington Road , Droitwich, at 2pm on Saturday.

She came up with the idea last year to raise cash for the British Institute for Brain Injured Children, which has supported her seven-year-old son Joshua.

Joshua was born with his brain compressing down on his brain stem and spinal cord which now means he has co-ordination, verbal processing and sensory problems.

He also suffers from Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and may also have a form of autism.

The Chawson First School pupil was not, however, diagnosed until the age of three, when he had to undergo major brain surgery.

BIBIC now provides a bursary to the mother-of-three to pay for Joshua to go twice a year to the organisation in Somerset for an assessment.

Their specialists devise a home therapy programme for him including activities such as walking along a balance beam and hitting a bat and ball, to improve co-ordination.

Now Mrs Harper hopes to give something back through the sponsored head shave - which she hopes will also raise the charity's profile - and has not cut her hair since October in preparation.

"BIBIC has been a godsend to me and I get a bursary from them so the idea is to try to give something back," she said.

"I'm looking forward to it but I'm starting to get a little but nervous and wondering whether I'm going to need a baseball cap or woolly hat."

Anyone wanting to donate should contact Mrs Harper on 01905 779563 or turn up on the day.