DECEMBEARD is getting ever closer and I’d like to ask men throughout Merseyside to join me in going grizzly in support Beating Bowel Cancer’s campaign, to help raise awareness of bowel cancer and vital funds for the charity.

As a bowel cancer survivor, I know how important it is for people to be aware of the symptoms and get an early diagnosis.

Unfortunately people tend to avoid talking about bowels and poo so the disease and its symptoms are less well known than many other cancers and this can cost lives.

So come on — join me in embracing your hairiness for Decembeard and get people talking about bowels — and they will because if you start growing a beard, everyone wants to know why! Beating Bowel Cancer is looking for 2,500 men throughout the UK to sign up to grow a beard and raise £100 each in sponsorship. The money raised will help to fund the charities work supporting people with bowel cancer and their families and raising awareness of the disease, its symptoms and the need for early diagnosis.

Sign up at wwwdecembeard.org and help us beat bowel cancer.

Kevin Sheedy, Beating Bowel Cancer Ambassador and Everton FC player