Strictly Come Dancing star to shave his hair off in memory of dad, Allan, who died of a brain tumour
13:47, 04 April 2021
updated: 14:22, 04 April 2021
Former Strictly Come Dancing star James Jordan has announced he will shave his long hair off in a fundraising tribute to his dad, who died of a brain tumour.
James, who lives in Sevenoaks with his wife and dance partner Ola, and their one-year-old daughter, will take on the challenge for the Brain Tumour Charity.
It will be in memory of his dad, Allan. He was just 68 when he died on March 13.
James said he had struggled to return to social media following the tragedy, but he said the time was now right to launch a fundraiser and increase awareness about this type of cancer.
The Medway-born dancer and TV personality said: "My dad was diagnosed with a Stage 4 brain tumour, but my family watched him slowly disappear. It is an absolutely horrendous disease.
"Brain tumours are the biggest cancer killer of children and adults under 40 but are woefully underfunded.
"Less than 3% of the annual £600m spent on cancer in the UK is spent on this cancer and this has to change.
"I want to do all I can to stop other families going through the pain, distress and nightmare that dad, my family and I went through with my Dad's diagnosis, treatment and passing.
"To raise vital funds for The Brain Tumour Charity, I'm going to be shaving off all of my hair on Tuesday, April 13.
"This date is also my birthday and it will certainly be a very different one this year, without dad.
He said many of his fans had commented on his hair getting longer. He said he had become 'superstitious' about getting it cut while his dad was battling the disease.
James added: "Now the time is right and hopefully we can do something good from cutting off my hair.
"Many of you have been pointing out how horrendous it looks. I agree, it looks pretty bad. It is pretty long.
"I am going to shave it off totally and all I want from you is to raise as much money as we can. I've never done anything like this before."
The Brain Tumour Charity is the largest dedicated funder of research into brain tumours globally.
To support James' fundraiser, click here
