Boxer to ditch razor for Beards for Bairns
Heavyweight boxer Gary Cornish is preparing to swap uppercuts for no cuts - at least to his facial hair.
The Inverness fighter is ditching his razor for a month when he takes part in the annual Beards for Bairns challenge to raise money for a new children’s unit at Raigmore Hospital.
At 6ft 8ins tall, he hopes his support will pack a punch with other men across the Highlands and inspire them to sign up for the challenge which takes place between Christmas Day and Burns Night on January 25.
"I’m delighted not to be shaving for a month," said Mr Cornish, of Milton of Leys. "It’s a great cause, and it will help so many children from across the Highlands.
"Sometimes it can be hard to find the time to do your bit for charity but this is so easy. In fact, it requires less work not more and can help shave an extra five minutes off mens’ morning routines."
The £2 million Highland Children’s Unit Appeal, launched by the ARCHIE Foundation in conjunction with The Inverness Courier, has just £200,000 left to go to reach its target. Work is already well underway on creating the new unit which is set to open in March.
Mr Cornish, also a joiner, will be joined in the fundraising challenge by his daytime boss, Brian Innes, director of IBI Joiners, who has already raised about £12,000 after donning his kilt to climb the 5895 metre-high Mount Kilimanjaro despite temperatures of minus 18.
Both men admitted they were newcomers when it comes to growing beards and were unsure as to which style they might opt for.
"We will have to wait and see and what happens," joked Mr Innes (33), of Culloden Moor. "Certainly, I don’t think there will be any rivalry between us - Gary is a bit too big for that!"
To mark the start of the campaign to recruit participants for the challenge, the two men visited the children’s ward where they met Noah Menzies and his parents, Steven and Rebecca. The nine-year-old, of Ardgay, has recently been diagnosed with Crohns Disease.
Mr Cornish - a father himself - delighted Noah when he spontaneously presented the youngster with his boxing gloves.
"That’s epic," a thrilled Noah said afterwards. "I might try them out first and then put them in a safe place out of reach of my younger brother."
It is the fifth year running, the ARCHIE Foundation has run the Beards For Bairns challenge and the charity’s Highland team hopes to raise a record amount this year. To get involved, participants need to pledge a minimum of £10.
Laura Mackintosh, Highlands and Western Isles head of fundraising for the ARCHIE Foundation, said if half the men in the region pledged their support for the challenge, they would smash through the appeal target.
"Beards are in fashion, so it’s a great excuse for men to ditch the razor and see what kind of beard they would grow," she said. "It’s also a great fundraiser for workplaces to get involved in over the festive period."
Men taking part will be encouraged to share their beard stories on Twitter and Facebook.
The creation of the new unit involves the redevelopment and extension of Raigmore Hospital’s former ward 11, previously used for respiratory patients.
* To register for the Beards For Bairns challenge, text ARCHIE on 70660, or visit www.beardsforbairns.org, or call (01463) 888258.
