A teenager shaved her hair off for charity after her injuries in a car accident meant she could not take part in a skydive in memory of her uncle.

Eastern Daily Press: Michaela Brighton who has shaved her hair off in memory of her uncle Barry Wilson who died from Neurofibromatosis.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAYMichaela Brighton who has shaved her hair off in memory of her uncle Barry Wilson who died from Neurofibromatosis.PHOTO BY SIMON FINLAY (Image: Archant Norfolk)

Michaela Brighton, 17, and her sister Samantha, 19, from Waterloo Road, north Norwich, were supposed to do a skydive to raise money for the Neuro Foundation.

But Michaela spent two months in hospital following the crash involving two cars outside the McDonald's restaurant in Boundary Road, which happened at about 11.40pm on Friday, May 10.

She suffered a broken ankle, a bleed on the brain, her liver had to be glued back together, and she had two blood clots. One of the side effects of taking the blood-thinning drug, warfarin, is hair loss, and she said: 'I was already losing loads of my hair, and I was not well enough to do the skydive, so I thought I would have my hair shaved off for charity, instead.'

The teenager, who attends Open Academy in Norwich, still needs to visit her doctor weekly for a blood test, but she said was getting better, and she is now planning the skydive for next year.

Her sister, Samantha, who has just left Open Academy, said: 'I just thought she should be recognised for her bravery and it will probably help to raise more money.

'We set up a fundraising page on 'Just giving' for the charity chosen. Michaela and I shared the link on facebook and twitter and she had her hair shaved off for more donations. We have raised £253.11 so far.

'The Neuro Foundation improves the lives of those affected by Neurofibromatosis, which is what our late uncle Barry Wilson died of, aged just 24 in 2005. He was and still is our inspiration. He also did charity work for cancer research, as his mother died from cancer.'

for more information, visit http://www.justgiving.com/Michaela-Brighton