THE mother of a three-year-old girl born with a terminal heart condition has given herself a dramatic make-over to raise money for the hospital that has helped keep her daughter alive.

Julie Langston had her head shaved to raise money for Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital.

It was there that her daughter Danielle had open heart surgery to repair six different defects in her heart.

Julie, of Penhill Drive, had her head shaved on Friday at the Moonraker's pub, in Cricklade Road.

She said: "I'm absolutely delighted with the money we raised, which was £117 on the night.

"It means that we've now raised £500, which is brilliant."

Julie admits that with the drop in temperature recently, she hasn't chosen the best time to lop off her locks.

She said: "I'm absolutely freezing and I've had to buy a hat to keep me warm. Still, it's worth it for such a good cause.

"I'd like to thank everyone who came to the Moonraker's and Louise Close, the mobile hairdresser, who shaved my hair for me."

The money will go to towards helping other sick children at the hospital.

The plight of Danielle - known as Dani - has been documented by the Advertiser.

In October she had the fourth major operation so far on her tiny heart and the results have been more positive than anyone dared hope.

Doctors now say that Dani may live long enough to go to school.

Over the past year Dani's family have tried to give her a lifetime's worth of fantastic experiences, with the help of generous Advertiser readers.

The smiling toddler was desperate to ride in a helicopter and hundreds of Advertiser readers phoned in with suggestions of how she could do so.

Dani fulfilled her dream when businessman Paul Cripps, who owns the Nightingale Hotel, in South Marston, offered to give her a ride in his helicopter.

In July, Paul Mapplethorpe offered to help Dani feel like a princess with a limo ride for her third birthday.

Using a friend's stretch limousine Paul took Dani and her sisters Tanya, 14, and Sophie, 12, 18-month-old brother Mick, and her parents on a trip to see their grandparents Mick and Barbara Langston, who live in Wantage.

In September, Harrod's boss Mohammed Al Fayed heard about Dani and gave her a flight over London in his luxurious Harrod's Air helicopter and the chance to kick a football around at Premiership side Fulham's training ground.

Anyone wanting to contribute to Julie's hospital appeal should contact the Advertiser on 01793 502801.