Inverness fire station could become the first in Scotland to turn out a crew of bearded firefighters.
A 12-strong group has been given special permission to grow their facial hair to raise money for the Raigmore Children’s Ward Appeal.
The firefighters, drawn from various watches, and managers are taking up the Beards For Bairns sponsored challenge which urges men to discard their razors for one month between Christmas Day and Burns Night on 25th January.
It has been issued by the ARCHIE Foundation which launched the £1 million fund-raising appeal in conjunction with The Inverness Courier to create a world-class centre for sick children.
Health and safety regulations require firefighters using breathing apparatus to be clean-shaven to ensure the equipment works effectively.
But senior management have given the men permission to grow goatee beards which will not interfere with the apparatus.
Firefighter Mike Bond is among those taking up the beard-growing challenge. "As far as we know, we could be the first Scottish fire station to do this en masse," he said. "In my 20 years in the fire service I have never seen it. It is certainly the first time it has been allowed in the Highlands."
Mr Bond said many of his colleagues have experience of the children’s ward as parents.
"The children’s ward appeal is a cause close to a lot of people’s hearts — and it is a local one," he said.
Also among those preparing to throw away their razors for a month is Gordon Sinclair, a firefighter on Blue Watch, for whom the appeal has special significance.
His 12-year-old son, Owen, who was diagnosed with asthma at a young age and also has frequent lung infections, is a regular visitor to the children’s ward.
Because of his condition, Owen finds it difficult to take part in sports and physical activities.
"He used to do a lot of swimming but cannot do that at the moment," Mr Sinclair said. "He finds it very frustrating."
Mr Sinclair’s two-year-old daughter, Hannah, who spent time in the hospital’s special care baby unit following a complicated birth, has also been a patient on the children’s ward.
"Our experience of the ward has been good," Mr Sinclair said. "But I think anything which benefits the care of children has to be a good thing."
Each firefighter taking up the challenge will pay £10 as well as seeking additional sponsorship.
They are not the only emergency service personnel preparing to discard their razors for one month — 25 police officers from Northern Constabulary have also taken up the challenge.
Members of Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle, including manager Terry Butcher, are also preparing to grow beards along with several volunteers at Scottish Provincial Press, publisher of The Inverness Courier.
*Latecomers to the Beards For Bairns challenge can call the ARCHIE office on (01463) 888258 for a recorded message on how to take part.
