A MAN is growing his hair to help raise awareness of his mum’s rare disease.

Paul Le Grave, of Woolifers Avenue, Corringham, pledged at the start of 2013 not to cut his hair or beard until the end of the year to helpraise money and awareness for his mum Wendy’s condition called Scleroderma.

Wendy Le Grave, of Church Road, Corringham, has diffuse systemic scleroderma, which affects a large number of her internal organs and causes them to harden over time.

Paul says the untreatable disease is one not widely known and he has made it his mission to raise as much money for the Scleroderma Society as possible.

He has already managed to raise £570.

Father-of-two Paul, 29, said: “I didn’t know at the start whether I would be able to last a year without shaving, but I want to do as much as I can to help my mum.

“She never complains and has always been there for us, so I want to give something back.”

Wendy, 47, a music teacher at Laindon Park Primary School, said: “Not many people know about it and people should.

“I was diagnosed four years ago and just have to get on with it.Ihave to take over 30 pills a day.”

Paul will be shaving all his hair off at midnight on New Year’s Eve.

To support the fundraising efforts, visit the website, www.justgiving.com/Paul-LeGrave