MEMBERS of a Pontypool football team have shaved their heads in support of one of their players.

Players from PILCS FC raised more than £1,700 for charity by taking part in the sponsored head shave over the weekend.

It comes after one of the club’s players, 23-year-old Alex Vaisey, begins going through a course of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in a bid to battle a recurring brain tumour.

His friends from Pilcs FC, where he has played for the last six years and also coaches Pilcs Ladies, went under the razor on Saturday afternoon in a bid to raise money for Velindre Cancer Centre.

They initially set themselves the target of raising £500, but they are now expecting to raise more than £2,000 when all the sponsorship is collected in.

Ryan Waite, who helped organise the head shave, said: “He started to lose his hair about two weeks ago, so we decided to do a sponsored head shave.

Alex, from Pontypool, said the sponsored head shave had been a huge success with around 25 taking part.

“I think we have raised £1,700, and with a lot more expecting to come, we should have over £2,000,” he said.

“It’s unbelievable really considering we only organised it a few days ago.

“The support around us has been incredible.

“I couldn’t ask for more from my team mates, they have been brilliant.

“Every day I’m getting texts from team mates saying they are there for me.

“They’ve been an amazing bunch of guys down there.

He added that he was touched when his friends came up with the idea of supporting him by having their heads shaved.

“Losing your hair at such a young age is such a daunting thing, so when they suggested it I was quite taken aback by it.

“I wouldn’t force it on anyone as some things you have to go alone, but they said they were happy to do it.

“It’s been a brilliant day and we have raised a lot of money for a great cause.”

The team can still be sponsored at https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/alexvaisey1