On the 3rd of February, I am going to shave my hair off - in an attempt to share just one aspect of the nastiness one of my best friends is, has and continues to have to endure as someone affected by a brain tumour.

I've had to watch my dad endure cancer, it's aggressive and savage treatment, the side effects - and then lose the fight. But then... to watch it start all over again with someone else I care about - a best friend, this time with an inoperable brain tumour is gut wrenching.

As a young woman, the side effects of treatments like radio and chemo therapy for this disease have even more of an impact and pose a very different; far more personal and psychological battle altogether.

My hair has for over a decade been my armour and my identity, one of my most cherished and nurtured features. I hope to make myself feel uncomfortable and vulnerable. I want to shock myself and those who suddenly don't see the version of me and my appearance they are used to. I hope to gain just some understanding of what losing all your hair through such aggressive treatment for a condition like this must be like - and hope that it registers to others in a different way, just how drastic a difference it is to every aspect of your life when you're diagnosed with a brain tumour.

With that, I want try to appeal and encourage everyone to empathise how much impact this disease has - for those who are diagnosed with, those who live with and all the nasty bonuses that come with it.

Please sponsor me/make a donation to my chosen charity - The Brain Tumour Charity and maybe not today, or tomorrow but at least contribute however small to the ongoing battle to understand, treat, prevent and cure brain tumours.

Thank you for anything you can donate, no matter how small - the price of an Espresso Martini in the city, a packet of cigarettes, that Lancôme mascara..... why not put that money to better use? You'll cope without it.... could you cope without your identity?

Jo :) x

PS - please say YES to gift aid! It adds no more to your donation but the charity gets more x