Hundreds of dads, uncles, fathers and sons have broken their previous record for a hair-raising annual charity event.
The Beards for Bairns challenge netted more than £170,000 for the Archie Foundation.
Launched in 2013 as a response to the success of the Movember movement in fighting men’s cancer, the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital campaign encourages men from across the north-east, Highlands and Islands to get sponsored and grow the biggest, bushiest beards they can between December 25 and January 25.
It raised a whopping £150,000 in its first year and now more than 600 men have helped smash the record by bringing in more than £170,000 so far.
The total is likely to grow even further as many of those who cultivated a fine facial fuzz for the cause have yet to cash in their donations.
Claire Bush, acting head of fundraising for Archie, said: “This event continues to grow in popularity, with well over 600 individually registered entries this year.
“I think it is because it is so easy for all men to participate. There is no training required and it costs nothing to get started, in fact it saves time and money.
“We have received over £170,000 so far, and I expect this total to grow as there are still a number of people to send in their money raised.
“Our appeals in Raigmore, Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital and Tayside Children’s hospital will all benefit and we are extremely grateful for all the support we receive on behalf of the children and their families.”
One of the men who helped break last year’s record was father-of two Iain Mearns, who, with the help of his bearded colleagues at ConocoPhillips, took part in a friendly competition with men from Britannia Operator Limited to see who could raise the most cash for Archie. Their efforts resulted in a grant total of £12,426.53 between the two groups.
He and his wife Hannah have been regular visitors to the children’s hospital since their younger daughter Flora was diagnosed with cerebral palsy .
Mr Mearns said: “I’m so happy that me and my colleagues at work have managed to smash our old record and our target for this year.
“Archie is fantastic, I can’t quite express how supportive Archie have been to my two girls, so I do my best to repay them in any way I can, and to know that all the money raised will benefit other families and their children is very comforting.”