The tragic death of a friend’s child has spurred a Witham man to shave his hair and beard off and have his chest waxed for charity.

Liam Smith, 25, of Pinkham Drive, is raising money for Dravet Syndrome UK after a colleague lost his two-year-old son on December 27 last year.

The condition, a rare form of epilepsy that begins in infancy, leaves sufferers at high risk of SUDEP (Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy).

The death resonated strongly with Mr Smith, who has two children of a similar age.

He said: “No parent should be without their child.

“It’s the cruellest thing that can happen to you.”

Mr Smith, who has been growing his hair and beard for three months, will be having the shave tomorrow at 1pm in Feathers in Sandpit Lane, in Braintree.

He will also have the Dravet Syndrome UK logo shaved into the back of his hair.

Family and friends will be invited to help wax his chest and will pay £5 to do a strip.

To donate visit: justgiving.com/Ollie-johnson2013