A WOMAN suffering from a rare condition has shaved her head to help a friend in need.

Catherine Gould shed her once-waist-length locks at Toni and Guy in Brighton to raise money for Samantha Beavan, who needs to travel abroad for specialist cancer treatment .

Mrs Beaven featured in The Argus in early January. Family and friends are trying to raise £50,000 so she can fly to Mexico for pioneering treatment which could prolong her life.

Miss Gould, of Fishersgate Close in Portslade, said: “She was a beautiful girl and we used to have a drink together.

“I read her appeal and could empathise with her.”

The 43-year-old, who suffers from Ehlers Danlos Syndrome, a failure of connective tissue which means she sometimes has to use a wheelchair.

She added: “I wanted to shave my head to raise money for her. I wanted to help her and I can’t run or walk so I did this.”

Her donation page showed she had raised close to £1,000 yesterday.

But a technical error means some donations have bounced back to donors using PayPal.

Miss Gould has almost £300 in actual donations and urges people to check their PayPal history and resend the money if they still feel able to donate.

She added: “Samantha has got two weeks of treatment left and we want to raise more money so will keep going for the rest of the month at least.”

Mrs Beavan, of Patcham, was diagnosed with cervical cancer while pregnant with her daughter just over a year ago.

The 29-year-old immediately began treatment and it emerged the cancer had spread to her lungs.

Miss Gould added: “Help us get Sam get to Mexico so she can be there for her children, Bracken and Daisy.”

To donate, visit kapipal.com/cathgouldsbravetheshave.