AN IRVINE teenager, whose father died suddenly after suffering a heart attack, is shaving off his locks to raise money for the Heart of Scotland appeal.

Bailey Wilson, 13, is hoping to raise a whopping £1,000 for the Heart of Scotland appeal, a fundraising campaign started by charity Heart Research UK. The campaign aims to raise national awareness about the killer disease.

Currently, it is estimated that over 700,000 people are living with cardiovascular disease in Scotland. The disease is responsible for the deaths of 47 Scots every day – claiming more lives than cancer.

Bailey, who has a condition known as 2q13 duplication, sometimes associated with autism, chose to shave his head, which he has been growing for over a year, in memory of his father. His father, Ian, died suddenly four years ago at home at only 38 years old.

Mandy Wilson, Bailey’s mother, remembers the effect that losing her husband had on her son. She said:

“I went to wake him at 7am, went into the bedroom and knew something was wrong. Ian’s arm was out and a lamp had been knocked over. Being a nurse, my adrenaline kicked in immediately.

“Bailey was saying ‘Dad, please don’t be dead, please don’t be dead’. He very rarely talks about his dad because of his condition, it’s as if he’s kept the whole experience deep inside, locked away in a box.”

The family talked about ways that they could raise money for a heart-related charity in memory of Ian.

“This fundraising challenge is something he can do for his dad, something that will help others and make them aware of the dangers. He wants to help other kids not lose their parents and raise money for a good cause. The research is amazing, it’s a massive part of trying to get the numbers of people affected down.” said Mrs Wilson.

Amanda Donaldson, Heart of Scotland Senior Fundraiser, said: “Everyone is so proud of Bailey for taking on this fundraising challenge.

“It’s a great way to celebrate the memory of his father and help us raise much needed funds. We all know someone that has been touched by heart disease. The more research we can fund, the more lives we can save.”

You can support Bailey by donating to the justgiving page here.