Grow a beard and help stop people dying of bowel cancer

Fathers, sons, brothers, grandads and uncles we're calling on you to grow a beard for us this December to help save lives.

Taking part in Decembeard is easy. All you need to do is shave on Tuesday 30 November and get sponsored to let your facial hair grow throughout the month. Already the proud owner of a beard? No problem. Dye, ditch or decorate your beard and get fundraising.

Bowel cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the UK and the second biggest cancer killer, affecting both men and women. Every 15 minutes in the UK someone is diagnosed with bowel cancer. That's over 42,000 people every year.

Money raised during Decembeard will help us continue to save lives and improve the quality of life of everyone affected by bowel cancer.

Luke Squires, Director of Fundraising at Bowel Cancer UK, comments: "We're determined to be here for everyone with bowel cancer, and getting sponsored to grow a beard is a really simple way to help ensure that we can continue to support those with the disease and their loved ones, today and in the future. Taking part in Decembeard couldn't be easier. Ditch the razor, let your beard grow and raise money to help us stop people dying of bowel cancer."

Phil Bingham sadly lost his brother Richard to bowel cancer in 2020. In his memory Phil gathered a team of fresh-faced friends to take part in Decembeard last year. Together, they raised over £29,000.

Phil Bingham, said: "I signed up for Decembeard just a few weeks after the death of my hugely loved little brother Rich to bowel cancer in August 2020. It's easy to feel powerless in such situations, but I knew that a tiny sacrifice of my vanity and a little more itching than normal could make a real difference to those finding themselves in the terrifying ordeal that Rich endured over four years.

"I knew how deeply my brother had touched so many people's lives. And that many of them would want to help. Sure enough, we drew together a motley crew of ten smooth-chinned volunteers. Almost before the first five o'clock shadow was visible, we found that each team member in their own way was able to lean on a remarkable numbers of generous donors. Many of them knew Rich personally, many didn't but felt they did. Some were total strangers. They were unified in feeling a compulsion to help."

• Sign up to Decembeard today

• Can't grow a beard? Discover other ways you can support our work