A MAN from Penarth at the heart of a campaign to raise awareness of bowel cancer is urging residents to grow beards to raise funds for charity.

Bowel cancer patient Patrick Wymer and a group of his friends are growing beards this festive season as part of Bowel Cancer UK’s Decembeard fundraiser, and they are calling on Penarth residents to join them.

Mr Wymer, 55, said: “I was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in June 2017.

"My old childhood friends, Richard, Andy, Tony, Mick and I took part in Decembeard in 2018 and we were keen to try and raise more money this year. Although we now live all over the UK (and in one case the US), the guys have been a tremendous support to me since my diagnosis.

"They know what a fantastic job Bowel Cancer UK do in funding research and raising awareness of the disease and have seen how important the charity is to me."

Bowel Cancer UK is calling on the country to join Patrick and his friends and take part in Decembeard.

All you need to do is shave on November 30 and let your facial fuzz grow throughout the month.

For those who are already sporting a bushy beard, Bowel Cancer UK suggest dyeing, ditching or decorating your beard to join the campaign.

Luke Squires, director of fundraising at Bowel Cancer UK said: "We are thrilled to have Patrick and his friends taking part in Decembeard and raising funds for the charity.

"For us, at Bowel Cancer UK, it means we can continue with our vital work of saving lives and improving the quality of life for everyone affected by bowel cancer.

“With more than 23,000 men diagnosed with bowel cancer in the UK each year, the disease is the third most common cancer amongst men and the country’s second biggest cancer killer.”

Donations can be made to: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/bcuk-decembeard-2019-7052.

To read more about Mr Wymer's story, see the Penarth Time's previous coverage at: https://tinyurl.com/uebn8kc