The big beard off!

The battle of the stubble is heating up as 17 contestants have a ‘grow off’ in aid of the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre.

Eighteen members of staff have downed razors for two weeks to raise much-needed funds in memory of Tommy Bennett for the Children’s Brain Tumour Research Centre (CBTRC), based at Nottingham University. So far, we’ve raised a fantastic £200, but we’re hoping for a whole lot more and there’s still time to contribute! Judging will take place on Monday by our very own Kathryn, India and Becky. Chief judge Kathryn says: “I’m looking for density, texture and cleanliness and any beard creatures will result in disqualification. But I think it’s going to be a close shave between two or three more hirsute contenders!”

The fundraiser is dedicated to Tommy who sadly at age 2½, suffered from anaplastic oligodendroglioma. This is a rare and very serious brain tumour, which grew to a third the size of his brain. Despite an 11-hour operation, followed by intensive chemotherapy, he was unable to beat the cancer.

Tommy was treated at the research centre, which is led by Professors David Walker and Richard Grundy. The centre carries out extensive research and aims to find a cure for all child brain tumours as well as to reduce the disability caused by them. It’s a well-deserved cause – so please dig deep and give generously!

Random beard facts

• Whiskers grow 5.5 inches per year
• Without shaving, the average man would grow a beard of 27.5 feet
• Amount of time an average man spends shaving is 3350 hours
• Number of whiskers on the face of the average man: 30,000

Bearded wonders
Longest beard on a living male - in 1997, Shamsher Singh of Punjab, India, had a beard of 1.83 m (6 ft) from the end of his chin to the tip.
Longest beard ever grown - Hans Langseth of Norway, whose whiskers stretched an incredible 5.33 m (17’ 6 in) when measured upon his death in Kensett, Iowa, in 1927.

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