Rob O’Hara is preparing to lose his hippy look.
The 24-year-old Dundee University student from Arbroath hasn’t shaved since January 1 and doesn’t plan to until next year.
The growth that has earned him the nicknames Bobby Beardo and Hairy O’Hara is all in a good cause.
Rob’s mum Carol died of cancer when he was just seven, leaving his dad Patrick, who works as a security guard at Glaxo in Montrose, to bring up Rob and his little sister Rebekah, now 20 and a student nurse in Dundee.
Late last year Rob hatched a plan to raise money for Cancer Research UK, the charity that spends millions supporting scientists in Dundee and St Andrews trying to get a better understanding of the disease and discover new treatments.
Rob said: ”I said I wouldn’t shave my beard or my moustache from January 1 2011 to January 1 2012. I was only seven when my mum died. I didn’t really realise the significance of not only cancer but of death. I was too young.”
At the end of last year, the third year animation student at Duncan of Jordanstone had a harsh reacquaintance with cancer when a member of his extended family passed away.
Rob said: ”At the same time one of my best friends from school came back home to see everybody because he had cancer. Luckily he has had the all clear since then.”
It was then he decided to set up a Facebook page (link) and start his campaign One Year. One Beard. No Trimming.
He said: ”I donate my old clothes to Cancer Research UK but I’ve never done any fundraising before. I can’t run a marathon and I can’t swim The Channel. I have always had stubble and beards and moustaches and wild haircuts. I have only ever had beards for a couple of months but never for a full year.”
Looking ahead to the time when he will finally shave off his beard, Rob said he would like to do that in a public place to give more people the opportunity to find out what was happening and make a cash contribution. He is hoping a traditional barber will do the honours.
Rob said: ”I have never had a wet shave from a proper barber. It would be good if we could do that in a shop window or somewhere public where people can see what’s going on and can donate money.
”I am open to offers. It would be good to do it in the first or second week of January. It might encourage someone else who has a beard to get it shaved off and make some money for the charity.”
To donate go to www.justgiving.com/onebeardoneyear.