A HEREFORD mum is having her hair shaved off in memory of her friend who died aged 29 from a rare form of cancer.

Leanne Rodrigues, aged 30, is having her shoulder-length hair shaved on August 15, for Sophie's Star- a charity which was set up in memory of Sophie Watts.

Sophie, who was a nurse at Hereford County Hospital, died from a rare cancer in June last year.

Sophie's dad, Bob, and a friend called Sophie Preece, aged 23, will also have their heads shaved on the day.

When Sophie was diagnosed Leanne told her if she lost her hair from the treatment, she would shave her head. But as Sophie became more ill, she was unable to see her, and Leanne vowed to keep her promise.

She said: "This is for Sophie. There is nothing more I can do for her or for her parents."

Parents Jennifer and Bob Watts set up Sophie’s Star to raise awareness of bile duct cancer and to help raise funds for St Michael's Hospice and AMMF, the UK's only cholangiocarcinoma charity.

Leanne, who has three daughters with husband, Luis, said: "I go to text her now and then and then realise I can't. It is hard.

"She was always happy and fun loving. Nobody could make me laugh the way she could.

"She was caring and kind. She was a nurse at the hospital and that was her whole life really."

The head shave is at 7.30pm at Yates's in Hereford on August 15. To sponsor them click here.