A PONTYPOOL woman who has had two kidney transplants and is almost blind after being born with a rare genetic disorder is to shave her head for charity.

Lisa Tainton, from New Inn, will shave off her blonde locks on her 42nd birthday on March 11, along with her two sons, Dominic, 14, and Kieran, 11.

Ms Tainton was born with senior-løken syndrome – a rare disorder characterised by the combination of a kidney condition and an eye condition.

Ms Tainton, who is registered blind, said: “I’ve got severe tunnel vision – if you imagine the side of a five pence piece, I can see less than that. My sight has got gradually worse and I was told when I was around 11 that I would eventually lose my sight.”

The former Swansea University student has also had two kidney transplants as part of the condition.

After previous jobs including helping disabled people back into work and being an admissions officer at the University of Wales, Newport, Ms Tainton has now settled in her job as a customer service advisor for the prison service in Celtic Springs, where she has been working since 2010.

The mother-of-two is now raising money for Kidney Wales Foundation and Guide Dogs by shaving her hair off, alongside her two sons at her local hairdressers, Ultimate Hair, in March.

A target of £1,000 has been set and the total raised so far has already passed £400.

Ms Tainton added: “I just wanted to do something different, something exciting.” To donate, go to www.justgiving.com/teams/gdkwf.