Beards Raise more than E3,500 for Sight Savers

Four men who appeared to have forgotten to shave for the past three months were actually changing their faces to save the eyesight of many people in poorer countries abroad.

John Porter from Conary had missed out on shaving for a few days over Christmas due to illness but it then sparked off an

Before the big shave

idea between himself and three pals, Andy `Rasher' Browne, Albert Greene and Cecil Hudson to grow beards for charity.

John has himself received some eye treatment in recent times so he felt that the `Sight Savers Grow A Beard for Charity' fundraiser would be an appropriate cause to help.

They set out on the highways and byeways since then to fill their sponsorship cards and have come up with more than 3,500 Euro. Their beards came to an abrupt end on St. Patrick's Day when Arklow hairdresser, Janice Breen carried shaved the three month facial growth in the Meetings bar in Avoca.

Although feeling the chill on a cold and wet St. Patrick's Day, the men were chuffed with their achievement and delighted that their idea will help to save sight in various parts of the world.

`Sight Savers' have changed the lives of many people in the world's poorest countries for more than 50 years. There are 45 million blind people in the world and in 80 per cent of these cases, blindness is totally preventable.

The charity works alongside local organisations and governments to teach basic eye care skills and hygient to adults and children. They also help to fund eye screening camps, operations, treatments, education, surgical training as well as supporting rehabilitation programmes.