Now you see it.. now you don’t!
Scott shears off 8-inch beard for care group
A St Leonards man went a cut above for a charity close to his family’s heart.
Scott Shields took the plunge and shaved off his incredible eight-inch ginger beard in aid of East Kilbride Dementia Carers Group.
The 35-year-old revealed it took him two years to grow such magnificent facial hair.
However, having been affected by the loss of his gran Jean Shields, 86, to dementia in 2015; his wife Rebecca’s 83-year-old grandad Bob Paterson’s diagnosis several years ago and, most recently, the death of Rebecca’s 79-year-old aunt Johanna O’Connor, Scott decided to repay the care service that has supported his family and provided much-needed respite to his grandad over the years.
The hair-raising fundraiser was shared live on Facebook from the couple’s home.
And not only did Scott smash his £500 fundraising target, he more than trebled it – pulling in a whopping £1575 in just one week thanks to the generosity of his family, friends, colleagues and Claremont Over-35s, the football team he manages.
“Both our families have been affected by this horrible disease,” Scott told the News.
“My gran sadly passed away in 2015 and Rebecca’s papa is now in a home really ill with dementia.
“Her aunt had been extremely unwell with dementia for a very long time and passed away.
“This illness is close to all the family so I felt it was the right thing to try and do something for this amazing group who have provided an incredible care service.
“We broadcast it live on Facebook and got about 128 people watching.”
Scott admitted having his pride and joy sheared off was a hairy moment – but he has vowed to regrow his beard and do it all again in the name of charity.
He added: “I was very nervous and I’m not quite used to my face yet. Rebecca was shocked and couldn’t remember what I looked like!
“I definitely want to grow it back and I will certainly revisit this in a couple of years if people want to put their hands in their pockets.
“I’m really grateful to everyone who donated. We were completely taken aback by the level of interest and the amount of money raised in such a short space of time.”
Rebecca added: “I would like to say I am so proud of my amazing husband Scott; what he has done I will be eternally grateful for.
“To raise as much money as we have is outstanding.
“A special thanks goes to my younger sister Rachael Davis of RachaelElizabeth Hairdressing who celebrated her birthday but took time out of her day to shave the beard off.”
EK Dementia Carers group is the only charity in East Kilbride which provides life-changing personalised daycare support to dementia sufferers, working with families and carers.
The organisation needs £50,000 to keep going every year.
Group co-ordinator Brian Doig Group says cash from Scott’s fundraiser will go towards buying a new £35,000 wheelchairaccessible minibus.
He said: “What an incredible achievement and a huge sacrifice.
“The amount raised recognises the measure of Scott’s sacrifice and we are totally indebted to him.”
I felt it was the right thing to try and do something...