A PROUD mum who is battling cervical cancer says her young fundraising daughter is her hero after losing her locks for charity.

Seven-year-old Emma Elsey had her long hair snipped into a short bob last week.

The youngster decided on the stunt to support mum Kate, who has been battling cancer for more than two years.

Brave Kate, 33, of Cloes Lane, Clacton, was diagnosed in 2012 after a huge number of tests.

The cancer jumped from stage two to stage four within two weeks, as it moved into Kate’s bones.

Doctors feared she had just three months to live, but Kate has battled the cancer every step of the way.

Over the past two years, she has had regular doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy and several operations.

Kate said: “I’m still here and I’m still fighting.

"My body is strong and I’m lucky that I have been able to live a reasonably normal life while all this has been going on. It’s still a case of wait and see, but I have made it this far."

Daughter Emma was inspired to cut her hair cut short after seeing her mum shave her head twice as a result of chemotherapy.

The youngster had it snipped off at Halo Hairdressers before sending it off to the Little Princess Trust, which makes wigs for youngsters fighting cancer.

Emma has also raised more than £700 for the charity through sponsorship.

Kate added: “I couldn’t be any more proud of Emma. She is my hero.

"She believes in me more than anyone else and I wouldn’t be here without her.”

People can still donate at just giving.com/Kate-Elsey/