A WOMAN from Bude is braving the shave in May, to raise money for her poorly young relative.

Emma Harris from Bude found out that her cousin’s young daughter, Christina Thomas, had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in February 2017.

Four-year-old Christina’s family was told that the tumour could not be operated on, and although chemotherapy may slow the process down, it could not be cured.

If left untreated, the family was told Christina could only have a few months to live.

Christina’s parents made the difficult decision to not put their daughter through chemotherapy, with fears of the unavoidable side effects and the fact that it would not cure her. They felt that her time may even be reduced by the treatment, and would most definitely be made intolerable.

Christina’s parents, Kenny and Francisca, who have settled their family in Norfolk and have also recently welcomed the birth of a new son Jude, started noticing their daughter was becoming easily tired in October and November of 2016.

They put this down to the excitement of nursery, but when Christina developed a limp in her right leg and her right arm became weak, they realised something was not right. After a frustrating time with tests and doctors, it was discovered that Christina had a mid-brain glioma, flipping the family’s life around.

Following a regime of juicing, organic foods, an alkaline plant food-based diet, the budwig protocol, along with numerous various supplements and superfoods, has had a positive effect on her and she has not deteriorated as was expected by the doctors.

Christina even managed to make it to her first day of school in September, something the family did not think would happen.

Emma told the Post that the plan going forward is to raise enough money to take Christina abroad to a hospital in Mexico, where several children from the UK are currently being treated for brain tumours with ‘very promising results so far’.

The intra-arterial and immunotherapy method used in Monterrey, Mexico, will amount to £300,000 for the complete course of treatment.

This money will also include the costs of flights and the accommodation required for the extended periods of stay there.

Emma, who is hoping to raise £1,500, said: “Although the fundraising is going well and family and friends have been pulling together to raise all we can — I felt there must be more I could do.”

She has decided to organise a sponsored head shave, along with a raffle, on May 12 in Bude, to help towards funds for Christina’s vital treatment.

“I got to work, getting in touch with local businesses, and I have been absolutely overwhelmed with the amount of generous donations of prizes I have had,” she continued.

“I have had quite a few different hairstyles, but none quite as drastic as this! I am feeling nervous about the new look, but the amount of support I have received, and knowing that we may be helping to save a little girl’s life, makes it all more than worth it.”

People can support Emma with her head shave at the event taking place at An Mor in Bude on May 12, from 6.30pm.

To find out more about the event, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/events/192 or the fundraising page https://chuffed.org/fundraiser/4078