On 20th June my good friend Paul lost his battle with throat cancer, leaving behind his wife of 15 years Serena and children Jack 14 and Amelia 10.

When Paul was diagnosed with cancer in December 2022 we sat down over a beer after a football match and the prognosis looked good. “94% chance radiotherapy will get this!“ he told me. “Kick it‘s ar*e” I told him!

I said that as he couldn't grow a beard at the best of times, I’d grow mine out for both of us, (we kept up our banter even during this difficult time) with the plan being to shave it off for charity when he was back, cured and playing football with us again. Paul founded the team of “Newbury Dads” in 2021, a group of local friends playing a friendly game of football every week , the team has now been renamed PBT FC in his honour and we held a charity match on his birthday this year vs Fat Dads FC from Wallingford, a team Paul and I used to play with weekly before the Newbury team was born. That match will now become an annual fixture to raise money for charities in his memory.

Following radiotherapy, a physical operation to remove the tumor and then two rounds of chemo and finally immunotherapy after it returned he gave the dreaded news that this was incurable and it was a matter of months before he’d be gone.

After a few tears the conversation turned to my beard, and I asked if we should shave it off together. He told me “No, I want you clean shaven at my funeral…” more tears…

Paul’s funeral is on 15th July and so on Friday 12th at 9am I am booked in with Headcase Barbers in Newbury to “brave the shave”. I’ve not been clean shaven in 12 years and still had a full head of hair then! As another friend pointed out this week, I’m “going to look like an egg!”. But I don’t care, it’s what Paul wanted and what I promised him I’d do.

While the original plan was to use this to raise money for a charity, and later in the year and in the future I am sure we will do plenty for charitable donations, but right now Paul’s family need this money to help cover funeral costs, removal fees (they were living in tied accommodation to Paul’s work) and I’m sure a whole host of other costs until his estate goes through probate.

Even if you can give the cost of a pint or a coffee (about the same these days!) that would be a massive help to his family as they transition into a life without Paul.

edit 2/7/24

WOW! £1500 in less than 24 hours! Time to start raising the target and planning some forfeits...

edit #2 2/7/24

You lot are amazing! I'll break out some bleach and shocking pink dye and get cracking dying the beard bright pink...Paul will be laughing his a$$ off at me! New target set at £5k.

edit #3 14/7/24

Absolutely blown away! On Friday when we hit this I was at a charity golf day and came off the course and someone asked what it was at, I took a look and just burst into tears.

My friend Michael has already dyed his beard from grey to pink (I'll share a pic in the updates) and Steve will be doing his this week!

New target set at £10,000, this will include the Wax and Whine event, details to follow!

Just seen the fees that JG take off too!! 2.9% and 25p per donation so we're already at about £225 in fees!