Lecturer John is growing the extra mile for charity
Academic hasn’t shaved in three years to raise awareness
A West College Scotland lecturer has become increasingly hairy in a bid to raise awareness and cash for Prostate Cancer UK.
Big-hearted John Allison pledged to do Movember in 2019 – and grow his beard for 30 days.
But the 36-year-old has actually grown both his beard and hair for THREE YEARS after a few lockdowns and fundraising hurdles got in the way of a clean shave.
Now with shoulder length hair and a beard growing out of control, John hopes one last fundraising drive will mean he can hit his £3,000 target and return to his polished good looks by the end of the year.
Explaining how the whole threeyear event came about, John said: “Back on November 1, 2019 some students in my class convinced me to shave my stylish stubble and then to not shave throughout that month to raise money for charity.
“I did not shave but never got round to the actual fundraising.
“Without the money raised, it felt unethical for me to shave, so the beard grew until I decided it was best to wait until November 2020 to shave.
“But we were in lockdown then. “I am not sure what happened in November 2021 to be honest but the bottom line is that I have not shaved since November 1, 2019 and am now attempting to raise £3,000 for Prostate Cancer UK – that would be £1,000 for each of year of having an increasingly unmanageable beard.”
Now, with just under £2,000 raised, John – a business and accounting lecturer at the Paisley campus – is urging anyone with a spare penny to donate to the cause which aims to fight one of the biggest cancers to impact men every year.
With the tag line ‘what we grow can save a bro’ John has explained that his increasingly scruffy look has allowed him to start many conversations about prostate cancer, its symptoms and the entire Movember movement.
“When people start to ask why you are getting scruffier – and they do – it’s a good opportunity to speak to them about prostate cancer, the signs and my fundraising page so it really is helping to raise awareness of the cause,” he commented.
“It started out initially as something I could do with the students but it has gone on so long I’m now very passionate about the cause and raising awareness.
“Since it started, a former colleague and friend has been diagnosed with prostate cancer so I’m more keen than ever reach the £3,000 fundraising target.
“One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes.
“But solidarity can help us to beat this.”
Some of the symptoms of prostate cancer include needing the bathroom more often, needing to rush to the toilet, a weak flow and blood in the urine.
To support John, log on to his JustGiving page at https://www. justgiving.com/page/no-shavenovember
He is opening to reach his target before the end of the year – so he can start 2023 looking his very best.
It has gone on so long I’m now very passionate about the cause and raising awareness