A MUM is preparing to lose her locks for charity after her son was diagnosed with a life limiting illness.

Sally Mitcham, from Rawcliffe in York, is to shave off her hair next month to raise awareness of Mucopolysaccharide Diseases (MPS) and donate money to the MPS Society.

Mrs Mitcham's son Danny, three, was diagnosed with Type II of the condition, which causes progressive physical and mental disability, in July this year when his parents looked into why his development had slowed.

They took him to a speech and language therapist and then to a paediatrician who confirmed the youngster had MPS.

"People are calling me brave but I don't feel like it," said Mrs Mitcham.

"This feels like the only thing I can do but I'm not looking forward to it.

"I've never had my hair this short and it feels like a dramatic step which I wanted to do to capture people's imagination."

The 43-year-old's husband Craig will shave her head at home and hopefully raise £1,000 in the process.

Meanwhile, Danny will undergo some enzyme replacement therapy to help him fight the condition, but there is currently no cure available or anything which increases brain functionality.

Mrs Mitcham said: "It's horrid because we didn't expect this information.

"It's been a tough time and I have felt very helpless throughout it because my child has a horrible diagnosis.

"There were a lot of things happening but his speech and understanding wasn't developing.

"We found out this week it's the most severe on the spectrum, so the sort of things he can do now will probably decline over how many years we have got left."

For more information about MPS and related diseases visit www.mpssociety.org.uk or call the MPS Society on 0345 389 9901.