A TEENAGE meningitis sufferer whose sister died from the same disease has had her pony tail cut off to raise money to help fight the illness.

Emily Blood, 14, of Spennymoor, was diagnosed with meningitis at just six-months-old.

The family were devastated by the news and worried because Emily’s older sister, Charlotte Rogers died of the illness aged four in 1996.

Emily was spurred on to have her pony tail and hair cut short to help other people tackle meningitis by the memory of her older sister.

She also wanted to help youngsters who had lost their hair after seeing a sick child, while on holiday this year, who had become bald.

The sponsored haircut raised £238 for the Meningitis Now charity while the hair will be donated to the Little Princess Trust to make wigs for youngsters.

Emily's mother Vickie Blood, 42, said: “Charlotte kept being sick and we found out that it was due to meningitis. Then at six-months-old Emily began to be sick and we discovered she had meningitis too. We were stunned.

“She’s wanted to do something to tackle meningitis for a while. We’re really proud of her and she’s never had it shorter than shoulder length before.”

Mother-of-five Mrs Blood, of Baff Street, raised £3,000 for charity following Charlotte’s death.

She split it between Burnley General Hospital, in Lancashire, where Charlotte was treated and the Meningitis Research Foundation.

Emily’s grandmother Margaret Blood was diagnosed with meningitis 38-years ago.

Emily, a pupil of Whitworth Park School and Sixth Form, in Spennymoor, had her hair cut for free at the town’s House Hair and Beauty Salon.

Hairdresser Amy Urwin said: “I think she’s very brave. It’s excellent that she’s done it and that she was also kind enough to think of someone else.”

Steve Dayman, Meningitis Now founder, said: “We know how attached a teenage girl is to her hair so it’s touching that Emily lost her locks to help us.”

Monica Glass, Little Princess Trust charity manager, said: “The Little Princess Trust is very grateful to Emily for donating her hair to help a child with cancer.

“It is truly heartening that someone so young has chosen to do so much for others.”

Donations can be made at justgiving.com/Emily-Blood/