A charity supporter fighting her own battle with cancer is urging men across the north and north-east to do their bit this winter.
Emily Findlay, who has been fighting aggressive cancer neuroblastoma for the last five years, has become an ambassador for the ARCHIE Foundation, which helps sick children across the region who need medical care.
The 20-year-old, who hails from Orkney but now lives in Aberdeen, is encouraging dads, brothers, grandads, uncles and friends to sign up for the charity’s annual Beards for Bairns campaign.
The appeal, now in its third year, was originally launched as a response to the success of the Movember movement in fighting men’s cancer.
But instead of growing as big a moustache as possible, ARCHIE – the official charity of the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital – has challenged men to take it on the chin and grow their beards big and bushy to raise as much cash as possible. The challenge runs from Christmas Day to Burns Night.
Miss Findlay said: “This is a brilliant fundraising campaign that the foundation does. It helps to raise awareness of the charity and raise funds and it is so easy to join in.
“I am currently trying to convince my own uncle, who has a beard, to shave his off and go “beardless” for bairns.
“I am also really hoping we will get people from far and wide, from Orkney and Shetland and Aberdeen and Inverness and all over the country, getting involved and spreading the word at the start of 2016.”
Miss Findlay has been inspirational in her long-running battle against cancer and has been involved in a number of charity ventures.
She also met football legend Sir Alex Ferguson at Hampden Park in September, following the Scotland v Germany European Qualifying match in Glasgow.
As for her own condition, she is realistic, but optimistic as Christmas approaches.
She said: “I am getting on well. I have officially finished my treatment and the scans were as good as they can be.
“I am not out of the woods completely, but it’s the best outcome I could have hoped for.”
Participants of Beards for Bairns are asked to raise a minimum of £10.
To get involved, text ARCHIE to 70660 to receive further details and a sponsorship form.