THE mum of a 13-year-old boy who died last year after a long battle with an incurable genetic disorder has had her head shaved to raise money for a charity close to her heart.

Jack Heath, of Cotman Close, Bacup, died in June 2013 after defying doctors’ expectations in his fight against MPS II Hunter syndrome.

His mum, Elizabeth, took the bold decision to shave her hair off in a bid to raise over £1,000 for the MPS Society – a charity that supported her family through Jack’s plight.

She said: “I just wanted to raise money and awareness for the MPS Society. They gave us so much support when Jack was ill, they were fantastic.

“I’ve raised £943 so far but there is more to collect so it will definitely go over £1,000.

“I wanted to raise as much as I could, but people are strapped for cash at the moment and I’m delighted with the money that has been donated.

“If I hadn’t done it then it wouldn’t have raised anything, and every little helps.”

When Jack was diagnosed in 2002 doctors told Elizabeth and dad, Jason, that he would be unlikely to make it into double figures.

Elizabeth, who works as an administration manager at Keenans Estate Agents, in Accrington also raised £1,100 for the charity in June with an event called Jack Day.

Nick Keenan, managing director at Keenans, said: “Without the MPS Society there to support Jack’s family, they would have struggled to get through the battles they endured in his short life.

“The society offered care package support, education, moral support, benefits assistance and even a much-needed escape from hospital after a nine-month stay.”