A 16-year-old is planning to shave her head for charity after her father contracted a chronic kidney disease.

Tania Greenough will cut her shoulder-length locks in aid of Kidney Research on August 29 at Macs in Farm Hill Road, Waltham Abbey, between 7pm and midnight.

Her father, Umed Mustafa, 42, has to visit a hospital in Chelmsford three times a week spending around four hours on each occasion receiving dialysis.

Talking about the impact of her father’s illness on the family she said: “It’s been hard to see what he goes through.

“He’s had a lot of operations but none of them have worked properly.”

She added: “I know some people who have shaved their heads for charity and it was successful so I thought I would do it too.”

Tania’s target is £500 and she has already received £320 in donations on her JustGiving page.

The teenager begins college two days later and has already bought a couple of wigs in preparation.

Tania’s mother, Cara, said: “I think it’s fantastic and very brave of her to do it before she starts college.

“Dealing with any disease is very stressful and worrying especially for children who don’t always understand what’s going on.”