It's been a while since I last bared my face to the world – late 2007, if my calculations are correct. Since then my beard has always been a fixture of my face: sideburns, moustache, occasional soul patch and the obligatory beard itself.

Recently a family member of mine has had cancer and the whole family have rallied round in support, with donations, cake sales and coffee mornings. I'm not much of a baker and more of a craft beer than coffee drinker, so I thought something beard-related might win me a few more pounds.

So: I've started day 1 bidding RIP to my beard and am now clean-shaven (and a bit scared). Over the rest of December I'll regrow my once proud chin-mane until I can stand firm like a brunette Santa Claus at the end of the month and hopefully meet my target to support Beating Bowel Cancer.

Thanks for your support!

(Please enjoy laughing at the various before/after photos which chart my beard's rise and (temporary) fall)