WHEN 18-year-old Morgan Penn went to the doctor suffering from leg pain, it was thought that it was down to a football injury.

The trainee mechanic from Romsey was referred for physiotherapy. But when he didn’t get better, his mum Stacey knew something was wrong.

One night, when Morgan was in excruciating pain, she rushed him to accident and emergency - where a scan revealed that the teenager had an aggressive form of cancer - Ewing sarcoma.

Morgan, now 19, underwent surgery to remove the tumour and has had an intensive and exhausting course of chemotherapy.

He will now have a full body scan every six weeks for two years to monitor for signs that the cancer has returned.

This weekend a team of hairdressers will embark on a marathon fund raising effort for Morgan’s chosen charities.

His mum Stacey has worked at House of Hair hairdressing salon in Bishopstoke for some 20 years and her colleagues have rallied round to support the family by raising money for Morgan’s charities - The Teenage Cancer Trust and Sarcoma UK - and to send him and his family on holiday.

Tracie Sheppard, owner of House of Hair, said the team at the salon felt they had to do something to help when Morgan was diagnosed.

They set a target of raising £10,000 this year.

From today they hope to take a big step towards that goal by holding a 24 hour ‘hairathon’.

A team of six did non-stop blow-drys, cuts and restyles until 9am tomorrow.

They aimed to raise £3,000 through the event, raising the total funds raised so far to £7,500.

They have been raising money through sponsorship for various sporting events, such as the ABP Southampton Half Marathon and the Hendy Eastleigh 10K.

They have further sponsored events coming up as well as a cheese and wine evening and a ‘beetle drive’ - an evening of table based games with food and a raffle.

Stacey said that the support of her friends at the salon has been invaluable.

“It definitely helps me to feel so supported,” she said.

“Working and being round the girls definitely helps.

“They are like my counsellors. They always pick me up.”