A WOMAN has raised nearly £1,500 for charity by shaving her head in memory of her dad.

Hayley Chriscoli, from Locking Stumps, shaved her hair off in aid of the Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Association on the second anniversary of her father’s death Douglas Kerr had suffered from the rare degenerative neurological disease before he died.

The 44-year-old decided to get the chop as the look is 'quite attention grabbing for a woman' and added that her efforts are as much about raising awareness as funds.

She said: "People have been stopping me on my daily walks or runs and asking me what I was doing it for, how much I’ve raised, and congratulating me.

"That’s been really nice – the reaction from my family has been one of great support, but also surprise – certainly from my children.

"They fully understand why I’ve done what I’ve done and why I’ve done it."

The shave, which was due to take place in a salon but ended up being a DIY attempt at home due to the coronavirus lockdown, is not the first time Hayley has marked the date of her dad's passing.

Last year, she and sister Andrea both got matching tattoos of hummingbirds – the 'very special' symbol of the PSP Association.

The charity has a special place in Hayley’s heart, as she volunteers her time to educate healthcare professionals on PSP – which is still not widely known about in the medical community.

Her dad was initially diagnosed with having Parkinson's disease before doctors discovered he actually had PSP two years later.

She added: "Very often, PSP is initially misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease.

"In earlier stages, it can present as Parkinson’s but without the shaking or the tremors, but PSP is a lot faster acting – so it degenerates quickly and does not respond to treatment for Parkinson's"

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