Frome man’s 365-day beard challenge comes to an end

A FROME man has successfully completed a 12 -month beard growing challenge to raise money for Dorothy House. 

Rob Marshall had his first shave in 52 weeks at an event held at the Archangel last weekend after enjoying a year of styling his big bushy beard, entering the British Beard and Moustache Championships and using the beard to complete a pirate look.

The challenge was started as a way to fundraise  after Rob’s father-in-law, David Wilson, lost his battle with oesophageal cancer and spent the end of his life at the Dorothy House Hospice. As well as raising much-needed funds Rob has also been able to enjoy the year-long challenge.

The event at the Archangel coincided with Frome’s Supermarket Day and was well attended as Darren Haywood, a barber and fellow beard enthusiast  travelled from Poole in Dorset to complete the honour of shaving Rob’s face. The event had a Master of Ceremonies, with Muriel Lavender entertaining the audience, and the Archangel also donated a night’s stay with breakfast to auction off at the event which helped bump up the total raised for Dorothy House.

Rob had originally targeted a fundraising amount of £1,000 before increasing that to £2,000 after a surge of donations early on. His latest fundraising amount is £2,380, with the total growing all the time.

Rob said, “I am not a fan of the beard going. It sounds strange but I’ve made so many new friends and great people through having the beard, that it is a shame to see a year of my life erased!

“Darren,  who travelled to Frome to do the shave is actually one of the people I have met through having a beard. I met him at the British Beard and Moustache Championships a few weeks ago where he kindly accepted the chance to shave the beard off. My wife on the other hand couldn’t wait to for it to go as she can’t stand it, so there are mixed emotions!

“Unfortunately David lost his battle last year but he was at Dorothy House as he wished, and his family was with him and he passed peacefully, after a happy day laughing and smiling with his family. Although this was a lot sooner than we had all expected, it was nice to see him so happy even at the very end of his journey.

“I am delighted with the amount I have been able to raise and I am grateful for all the support I have received.”

For more information, pictures and updates on the challenge, visit www.facebook.com/365daybeard or if you wish to donate visit  www.justgiving.com/365daybeard.