A CALDICOT man has shaved off all his hair in a bid to help a friend raise enough money for life-changing brain surgery that is not currently available in the UK.

Thomas Hughes, nicknamed Spoon, has so far collected £500 towards the challenging £34,000 target for the operation and aftercare at a hospital in Germany.

His friend Anna Hill was diagnosed with a rare pineal cystic tumour on her pineal gland, after years of struggling with symptoms such as severe migraines, chronic nausea and dizziness, vertigo and regular loss of sight in her left eye.

There are only a handful of doctors in the world who are willing to perform the operation needed to remove the cyst.

“I’ve known Anna since studying in Bristol, when my girlfriend Hannah lived with her,” Thomas explained.

“We didn’t realise the full extent of what she was going through – and were shocked to find out. I can’t help but help my friends, and as I’m not much of an athlete I thought ‘what could I do?’ I hadn’t cut my hair for over four years, but I thought to myself, Anna needs my help and it will grow back!”

As well as fundraising for Anna, Thomas is donating his hair to Little Princess Trust, a charity which provides real hair wigs for children.

“Friends are so important to us, and this is my chance to help a friend in need,” he said.

“People want to help others, but they often don’t know what to do. By donating to help Anna get her brain surgery, you’ll be helping her to get her life back.”

So far Anna has managed to raise £15,000 towards her £34,000 goal, through her Go Fund Me page. More details about Anna’s condition can be found at www.gofundme.com/help-anna-get-her-brain-surgery

A video of and pictures of Thomas’s girlfriend Hannah shaving his head can be seen on Facebook www.facebook.com/TheOnlySpoonInTheVillage/posts/1856276914395453