A Manchester radio presenter, recently diagnosed with bowel cancer, has pledged to grow his beard until he beats the deadly disease.
The XFM presenter Gareth Brooks has also enlisted the help of his friends to see if #BeardsAgainstTheCancer can go viral and help others afflicted with cancer.
Gareth was told of the news in October after being falsely diagnosed twice with haemorrhoids. The second doctor then suggested he had a colonoscopy where the tumour was found.
Yet the DJ says that not much has changed other than having to go to the toilet a lot more than usual.
CELEBRITY SUPPORT: Vincent Kompany has pledged his support
Gareth told MM “The idea for #BeardsAgainstTheCancer came after I was just messing about one night and said to a mate of mine that I was going to grow my beard until I got rid of the tumour.
“Few folk said they’d join me and then one of my closest friends suggested we sold T-shirts and Mugs from his shop in Edinburgh.”
Gareth added that the support and love he has gained had been ‘crazy’ and has almost struggled to come to terms with it.
‘LOVE AND SUPPORT’: Gareth’s army of fans
“The support and love I’ve received from all over the UK, Europe, parts of the US, Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and South Africa is Incredible,” he said.
“Michelle Keegan and Tina O’Brien from Coronation Street bought T-shirts, the guys from Elbow are on the website and even Vincent Kompany from Manchester City is behind the campaign.”
SPREADING AWARENESS: Beards against the cancer in Dubai
“All the money we raise from the t-shirts and Mugs will be going to the Christie Hospital in Manchester, where I’m having my treatment.”
To visit Gareth’s page, click here.
Pictures courtesy of Gareth Brookes via Tumblr, with thanks
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