Worstead trio shave off a year’s beard growth to support Norwich toddler Emmie-Rae
3 men from Worstead shave off their beards at the White Lady Pub in Worstead for charity after growing them for 1 year. Raising hundreds of pounds for paediatric intensive care units at the Norfolk & Norwich & Great Ormond Street on behalf of the Emmie Rae Appeal. Pictured from left Jake Allen, Emmie-Rae Barker, Liam Blackwell and Jussi Tye.Picture: MARK BULLIMORE
Winter winds now whip the whiskerless faces of three young men who have shed their year-long beard growth to support a brave toddler.
3 men from Worstead shave off their beards at the White Lady Pub in Worstead for charity after growing them for 1 year. Raising hundreds of pounds for paediatric intensive care units at the Norfolk & Norwich & Great Ormond Street on behalf of the Emmie Rae Appeal. Pictured from left Jake Allen, Emmie-Rae Barker, Liam Blackwell and Jussi Tye.Picture: MARK BULLIMORE
Crowds gathered in Worstead's White Lady pub to watch the baby-smooth faces of Jake Allen, Liam Blackwell and Jussi Tye emerge after several razors had worked their magic.
The trio's so-called 'Yeardy' feat has raised about £1,400 for London's Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) and the neonatal unit at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
Among the 50-60 people watching the shave-off was little Emmie -Rae Barker and her parents, Charlotte Monsey and Kane Barker.
16-month-old Emmie-Rae, of Fowell Close, Earlham, was born with multiple heart defects and has received care at both GOSH and the N&N in the past.
Jake, 23, and Jussi, 33, live in Worstead where Emmie-Rae's granddad, Alan Monsey, is also a resident. Liam, 35, lives in nearby Sloley.
Mr Monsey, 54, said the family was delighted with the trio's efforts.
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'It was absolutely amazing - totally overwhelming and very humbling. We couldn't have asked for it to be any better' he added.
Emmie-Rae had undergone two major heart operations and had twice been on life support systems, according to Mr Monsey.
But she was now walking and making excellent progress and the family were crossing their fingers that she would thrive in the future.
'She's so happy - she never moans or whines. We are making the most of her,' he said.
Mr Blackwell said he had been very nervous as he prepared for his shave.
'It's quite amazing how attached you become when you've grown it for a year and it takes five minutes to shave it off,' he said.
The change also alarmed his 18-month-old son Finley who did not recognise his father until the following day.
The trio thanked all those who had supported them.
