Businessman turned ‘bluebeard’ for charity
A BUSINESSMAN is braving daily embarrassment after dyeing his beard blue for September in the name of charity.
Forty-eight-year-old Brian Fulton is taking on the month-long stunt to raise money for the Glasgow branch of the Samaritans.
The finance and operations director at Hold Fast Entertainment, which runs city clubs The Cathouse and The Garage, and a board member at Glasgow’s Chamber of Commerce, Brian says the idea came after the loss of a colleague.
“Not too long ago we lost one of the boys in our office after he took his own life, so this is something I really wanted to do,” Brian explained.
“I’ve had experiences with people in my family suffering from depression and suicidal thoughts quite recently, as has another workmate who lost a loved one, so I thought it would be good idea to do something for charity.”
Despite the wacky nature of the stunt, Brian insists that the colour of his beard has a deeper meaning.
“The reason I chose to dye it this colour was to say ‘it’s ok to feel a bit blue’, and as far as work in Glasgow goes, the Samaritans do a fantastic job helping people in that situation,” he said.
While Brian, who also sits on the board of music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins, has taken part in fundraising runs and cycles in the past, turning his facial hair blue is something new.
Brian said: “It was an idea we had a few months ago but now that its been done the reality of it has really been hammered home.
“We just did it in the office but it took Emily, one of the girls in the office, three different bleaches and two types of dye.
“As an accountant I have to go to a lot of quite formal meetings and the blue beard doesn’t quite match the usual aesthetic.
“So far people have been looking at me like I’m insane but hope- fully, as the month goes on, that’ll get better.
“This morning on my way in to work a guy and his child crossed the road to get away from me.”
Initially setting his target amount at £1000, Brian surpassed this before the blue had even set in, and is now hoping to keep the numbers rising.
“A few of my colleagues have been saying that I should keep it going beyond the end of the month but I’m not sure that’s something I want to do.
“Even though what I’m doing is pretty embarrassing, it will raise money, and it’s just as important that people know there are people to speak to like the Samaritans.”