After spending more than a year growing his beard, Werribee Football Club player Nathan Laracy has had his whiskers whisked away in the name of charity.
Mr Laracy had his trademark facial hair shaved off at Werribee Mercy Hospital last Wednesday.
The Hoppers Crossing resident sacrificed his “bushranger” beard with the aim of raising $10,000 for the hospital’s new critical care unit (CCU).
The state government has committed $85 million for the CCU, including eight critical care beds and 56 inpatient beds.
The Werribee Hospital Foundation and the Mercy Health Foundation have launched a series of appeals to raise $2 million to fit-out the new unit.
Laracy, the Tigers’ longest serving player, said he did not mind losing his beard for a good cause.
“I have always wanted to do something like this for charity and my housemates were very persuasive,” he said.
“Werribee Mercy Hospital does great work in the community, so the chance to help them out seemed perfect.”
Staff from Grindstone Barbers and Baristas and Linear Hair and Beauty Werribee conducted the shave, with Ballan Holden Werribee providing support for the event.
So far, Laracy and the Tigers have raised more than $7000 for the CCU.
Fundraising efforts will continue until May 7, including at Werribee’s match against the Casey Demons in Hoppers Crossing this Saturday.
