UPDATE - 14th DECEMBER 2006
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Well, the beard is gone.  (See photo for evidence.)

Many thanks to the many of you who made such generous donations - we raised over £1,000 in almost no time at all.

But it's not too late to help us get to the magic £2,668 for FORCE Cancer Charity - if you'd like to make a donation, click the "SPONSOR US NOW" button above.

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For two-and-a-half  years, I have been busy cycling half-way around the world. And back again.

And growing a beard.

Now the beard has got to go. But beard removals don't come cheap.

Help me raise £2,668.

Not for me, but for Force, the cancer charity.

£2,668. That's 10p for every mile I cycled.

Could you help by donating a pound or two?
Just click on the "Sponsor us Now!" button at the top of the page.

Force provides support to people affected by cancer, and I am raising money for them in memory of Richard Mallett, a keen Devon cyclist and who worked as a mechanic and bicycle guru at the Bike Shed in Exeter.

Richard was one of the biggest inspirations behind my original "big" bike ride, from Exeter to Hong Kong in 2004.

Richard died, from cancer, at the age of 30, a few months after I began my bicycle journey to China.

Richard married Kim just over a year before he died. Recently, Kim wrote to me to say: "FORCE was very good to the both of us during Richard's illness and it is not until times like these that you actually know who is out there to help and support you during horrendous times."

Please sponsor my beard removal by making a donation today, in memory of Richard or of someone else known to you who has been affected by cancer. If everyone reading this donated a pound or two, we'll hit the fund-raising target of £2,668.

If you could help by donating a pound or two, just click on the "Sponsor us Now!" button at the top of the page.

Donating through this site is simple, fast and totally secure. It is also the most efficient way to sponsor me: FORCE will receive your money faster and, if you are a UK taxpayer, an extra 28% in tax will be added to your gift at no cost to you.

So please sponsor me now!

Just click on the "Sponsor us Now!" button at the top of the page.

Many thanks for your support.

Edward

PS In case you wondered, yes, ALL the money raised goes to Force Cancer Charity - NOT to my Edward-wants-a-new-bicycle slush-fund. This is not a sponsor-me-to-go-on-holiday venture. It's raising money for Force Cancer Charity, pure and simple.

Look out for before-and-after pictures in the Express and Echo, or see the shave on TV on BBC Spotlight.

For more information about Force, go to www.forcecancercharity.co.uk
For more information about my ride, go to www.2wheels.org.uk

Bid for the beard on eBay: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=280053740848