Maxwell ready to put his hair to good use

Maxwell ready to put his hair to good use

16 October 2013

A DOWNPATRICK man is preparing for three haircuts with a difference. Maxwell Irvine has been growing his hair, beard and moustache for almost two years to support four different charities.

Just before New Year’s Eve 2011 Maxwell was considering making a change in his life and doing something different: “I decided I needed to let my hair grow uncut.

“It was intuitive for reasons unknown, but ultimately I decided to help charity,” he said.

He has now decided the time has come to cut his locks and has decided to make as much money as possible for four charities — The Little Princess Trust, Breast Cancer Awareness, Helping Hands Romania and the Movember cancer research charity.

However, it’s not just a question of cutting his hair in one sitting — Maxwell is planning something different.

First to be cut will be his hair which will raise money for The Little Princess Trust (LPT), which provides real hair wigs for children who have suffered hair loss.

Before donating his locks Maxwell will have to have his hair straightened, but he is happy if his hair can help an ill child: “I chose the LPT when two friends had their hair cut and one of them gave their hair to the LPT, which is helping children with serious illness,” he explained.

“Their final few months are just pure torment. A child shouldn’t go before the parent, especially when it’s an infant or a young child.

“The plans are to straighten my hair to meet the length for the LPT which is a minimum length of 17cms, or seven inches.”

Next up Maxwell will dye his beard pink for Wear it Pink Day on the last Friday in October, when he will be collecting in the town for Breast Cancer Awareness.

After taking part in the charity day last year Maxwell knows what to expect while collecting: “Last year I wore pink make-up, a pink cowboy hat and my own form of cowboy boots,” he said.

“Rather than just raising an eyebrow this year I have a little extra planned to surprise people. I am not 100% fearless wearing all the pink, but it is about raising awareness and these things do matter.”

Then on Friday, November 1, Maxwell will finally lose his beard when it will be plaited and shaved off at Mullan’s Bar in the town, in aid of Helping Hands Romania.

“Many people have said I should shave for charity and it was my friend Daryl McCoubrey who said I should shave it for Helping Hands,” Maxwell said.

“I decided on Helping Hands as a few friends work with them and it’s always good to know where your money is going.

With the beard gone he will keep his moustache throughout November as part of the Movember charity which raises money for prostate and testicular cancer.

“The last charity will be the Movember. I may try to go for a different style of moustache every day.

“I wasn’t able to do the Movember last year as you can’t do it with a beard. This year I will be following the rules to the letter,” he said.

Maxwell described his hair getting longer as a ‘growth experience’ and said: “I have gained so much from growing the beard I would be more than happy to do it again.”

To donate to Maxwell’s charity collections you can visit www.justgiving.com/MaxwellIrvineLPT www.justgiving.com/MaxwellIrvineWEARITPINK visit the Movember page http://mobro.co/maxwellirvine or visit Mullan’s Bar on November 1.