RACH staff and patients back Beards for Bairns

Staff and patients at RACH are encouraging individuals, businesses and groups to ditch the razors this winter to raise money for local sick children.

The ARCHIE Foundation is calling on workplaces, sports teams and families to get involved in their annual Beards for Bairns campaign, which sees men grow or style a beard from Christmas Day to Burn’s Night and get sponsors to help raise as much money as possible.

Women can also get in on the fun – not by growing a beard – but by nominating mates to take part.

If the nominee chooses to accept, their nominator is asked to donate to kickstart their fundraising. If the nominee declines, they’re asked to donate to ARCHIE as a forfeit.

Ahead of the campaign, ward staff have pledged their support to the initiative which is raising money for the official charity of Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital.

Senior staff Nurse Guy Wilson was nominated by six-year-old patient Etta, from Stornoway, to take up the challenge.

He said: “I don’t normally grow a beard other than a bit of stubble but it’s to raise money for charity so how could I refuse?

“Etta has nominated me to grow a hipster style beard so I’m sure I’ll get some funny looks come 25th of January.

“Growing a beard and taking sponsorship is the least I could do to help them raise more funds to help young people who come into our care.”

He also encouraged other men across Grampian to get involved, adding: “What better way to help fundraise than simply growing a Beards for Bairns?

“It shows small ways to fundraise can help make a big difference to young people who will benefit from specialist child-friendly spaces.”

Around £30,000 was raised in last year’s initiative and ARCHIE’s Emily Findlay is hoping to see similar results this time round.

She said: “Beards for Bairns is back for 2019 and we want people across the region to get involved.

“It’s so simple: grow or style a beard for one month from Christmas Day to January 25 and raise money for sick children.

“You can sign up individually or as part of a team of workmates or friends by visiting archie.org/beardsforbairns.

“All money raised will stay here in Grampian to support local children and their families.”

Anyone looking for more information should email hello@archie.org.