Bewdley mum's headshave for son with leukaemia

Mum-of-four Charmaine Ball-Andrews, aged 35, was devastated after her 5-year-old Caleb was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia back in January 2021.

She said: "It was a complete and utter shock. We thought he had Covid or something. He could hardly breathe."

Caleb is currently receiving chemotherapy, and will receive further treatment for the next three years.

Mrs Ball-Andrews said: "It's been hard because we feel like we're in limbo. Life is carrying on around us but we're stuck in this little bubble.

"It's full of hospital appointment times and admissions. It's worrying all the time.

"He can't stand up, he's wheelchair bound. He's having physiotherapy. We don't know how long it's going to be until he's walking again.

"We're nine months into intense treatment and it's been tough on our family. We still have a long journey ahead.

"He's been so brave with all that he's been through and I wanted to do something to show how proud I am of him."

Mrs Ball-Andrews, who has mobility issues, lives in Bewdley with her husband Simon and their children Jack, Tyler and Violet and Caleb.

She will be carrying out a sponsored head shave on Saturday, October 30 2021 at Woody's Barbers in the town at 1pm.

She added: "As I've got mobility issues I can't do these sponsored runs, walks so I was sat twiddling my fingers through my hair and it came to me."

She has launched a GoFundMe page where people can make donations. The money raised will be split three ways, between Caleb, the Grace Kelly Childhood Cancer Trust and the family of Kidderminster cancer fighter Megan Smith. People can donate to the appeal here.