Having completed the long hard slog of not shaving (or having a haircut) for over a year (approximately 400 days and counting), I currently look like the attached profile pictures.

With the year mark passed, now feels like a good time to try and put the effort to good use and raise some money for charity.

So if you can spare a few pennies it would be greatly appreciated.  Whether you consider the sponsorship to be for the effort of growing the beard for a year / finally shaving it off / the amusement provided / sympathy for what Jacqui's had to put up with for the last year, they are all great reasons!  And, as a big added bonus, Barclays will match anything raised.

I've done my best to cobble together some photos (see the photo galley) to show the 'progress' made throughout the last year from a young fresh faced chap to what I have become today!  There are a few impersonations in there towards the end as well.

*** Photos have also been updated to include various stages of the shearing process ***

The money raised will go to KIDS, a charity which supports disabled children, young people and their families by ensuring disabled children from birth to 25 have the opportunity to learn, play, build friendships, gain confidence and improve their well being.  Like all charities, they have really struggled for donations during the last year or so, with the cancellation of numerous fund raising events, and so anything raised will be hugely appreciated.

Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure. Your details are safe with JustGiving - they'll never sell them on or send unwanted emails. Once you donate, they'll send your money directly to the charity. So it's the most efficient way to donate - saving time and cutting costs for the charity.