A BRAVE teenager has pledged to shave his head for charity...just days after his dad was diagnosed with leukaemia.

Andrew Carrington-Moule was shocked when his dad Philip was diagnosed with the illness last week.

Philip, who works for BT, had been experiencing flu symptoms since before Christmas.

Andrew, 17, who lives at home in Highwoods, Colchester, with his dad and mum Karyn, said none of the family had any reason to be concerned.

However, a week into the new year Philip visited the walk-in centre in Colchester, as he had an ear infection.

Andrew said: “He started getting a pain behind his ear.

“They said the infection could have spread to his brain so they did some blood tests and he was kept in hospital overnight after going to A&E.

“The blood tests came back the next morning saying he had leukaemia.”

Philip, 57, was taken straight to St Bartholemew’s Hospital in London, where he will stay for the next six weeks.

Andrew said: “It was a massive shock for all of us. I’m still in shock now. The worst thing we thought it could be was an infection.”

Andrew, who studies at Colchester Sixth Form College, said he would shave his head to raise money for Cancer Research UK.

He added: “The idea came suddenly. My dad always had a shaved head but decided he wanted to grow his hair out. Now he has been told due to chemotherapy he will lose his hair.

“I don’t like how I look with a shaved head, but if it makes me feel uncomfortable imagine how it feels for people who don’t have a choice?”

He will be shaving his head on February 4 which is World Cancer Day.

Andrew said: “My dad is quite reserved but he is bright and happy, he has been really positive so far.”

Philip will start four rounds of chemotherapy, one including a bone marrow transplant, today.

n To donate, visit fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/page/andrews-giving-page-130.