With Movember over, many people have decided to continue with another month of fundraising for Decembeard. York man Geoff Marchment tells KATE LIPTROT how he has banished his razor in unison with a friend battling bowel cancer.

FRESH from cultivating moustaches throughout November, men across the country have been urged to grow beards for charity.

Decembeard aims to raise money and awareness of bowel cancer, which is the UK’s second biggest cancer killer, with over a hundred people being diagnosed every day.

Thirty-four-year-old Geoff Marchment, from York, has had more reason to support the Beating Bowel Cancer campaign than most after his childhood friend and best man James Hennessey was diagnosed with the disease.

James started to have problems two years ago and was treated for general bowel issues but cancer was not diagnosed until recently.

A month ago James, his wife and his 18-month-old son came to spend the weekend with Geoff in York, who said: “He was in a lot of pain, spending a lot of time lying on the floor. There was clearly something seriously wrong”.

Following the visit, James went back to the doctors and tests flagged up an abnormality and then a scan found a large tumour.

On December 2, youth worker James, 33, was operated on and 80 per cent of his lower intestine removed.

He is now resting at his home in the Wirral and waiting to hear if he will require further treatment but when he heard his friend was taking part in Decembeard he decided to sign up as well.

Geoff, an account manager with Aviva, said: “James is inspirational to me. He worries more about those around him than he does about himself. What he is going through makes everyone who knows him want to hug their loved ones closer to them and look out for each other.

“It’s typical of James that when he heard I’d signed up for Decembeard, he decided even from his hospital bed to also sign up to help others.”

Geoff heard about the campaign on Twitter when he saw a tweet by comedian Terry Alderton saying he’d signed up for the campaign.

He said: “When I heard about Decembeard, it was a no brainer to take part – and when I told James about it, he immediately said he’d sign up too. James already had a beard but has stopped trimming it in return for sponsorship and we’re chuffed that he’s already raised hundreds of pounds each for the charity.

“It’s a great way to raise awareness and easy enough for anyone to take part in no matter how poorly they are – as James can show.” But it’s not all positive, Geoff said: “My wife’s doesn’t like it much and my young daughter, Ellie, is finding my cuddles a bit scratchy, but it’s for a great cause so I can stick it out."

Over 90 per cent of cases of bowel cancer can be treated successfully if caught early.

Paula Guanaria, senior community fundraiser for Beating Bowel Cancer in Yorkshire and Humberside, said: “We’re incredibly grateful to Geoff for taking part in Decembeard. We hope people in York will support him in raising awareness of bowel cancer and funds for the charity, which will help us support more patients and families affected by the condition.”

You can support Geoff fundraising efforts at http://www.justgiving.com/geoffmarchment-decembeard