A TEENAGER who had to see how cancer treatment affected his mother’s health decided to show his solidarity by shaving his hair for her and raised more than £2,500 in the process.
Freddie Davies, 14, made contact with Barnsley Hospital Charity earlier in the year asking for help to raise money for the chemotherapy ward as his mother, Kelsie, went through her second round of treatment.
He braved the shave, cutting off all his hair in January and raised £2,551 for the hospital’s chemotherapy unit ten times more than his original £200 target.
At the time, he told them how he had found nurses and staff kind and supportive, not only to his struggling mother but also to himself.
He said: “My mum being diagnosed with breast cancer made me feel scared, anxious, worried and upset which has made it even harder as I love her so much.
“It has been hard seeing my mum with no hair because she hasn’t looked like herself.
“She has been very brave, making me proud to say she is my mum.
“So for Barnsley Hospital Charity in January, after my mum’s last chemotherapy session, I shaved my head so we looked like two little eggs together.”
Jane Mills, charity development manager for the hospital, said: “It was an absolute pleasure to meet Freddie and witness his amazing feat of braving the shave.
“He is an inspiration and a young hero supporting his mum and raising vital funds for our chemotherapy ward.
“I send our heartfelt thanks to Freddie and everyone who has supported him from the hospital charity.”
For his bravery and support of both his mother and the hospital, the Trinity Academy pupil has been put forward for this year’s Proud of Barnsley.
“I can’t even put into words how proud I am of him,” Kelsie added.
“Even talking about it now makes me emotional.
“It’s lovely that everyone can see what I get to see in Freddie all the time.
“He’s done something so positive out of something that was so sad.
“I think he’s just such a great message about the work young people in our town do.”