Martys shaving his beard in the battle against cancer

A 24-year-old Birr man with Down syndrome is having his beard shaved later this month in order to raise funds for the cancer unit at St Luke’s Hospital.

It’s a cause very close to Marty Carroll’s heart as he lost his own father, the late Martin 'Ducker’ Carroll, to the disease when he was just four years old.

“He is such a wonderful man, he has gone through so much. As well as having Down Syndrome he has had a spinal fusion and a hip replaced,' Marty’s proud sister Amanda told the Offaly Independent.

Amanda, who is helping Marty organise the event which takes place in The Fighting Cocks Bar in Birr on Friday September 18, says that preparations have been running smoothly thanks to the generosity of the people and businesses in Birr, which, she says, have been “phenomenal”.

“David Watkins from The Fighting Cocks have been absolutely wonderful, the barbecue and music have been sponsored and he’s been a real Trojan.

Marty decided to do a sponsored beard shave, his sister said, after his recently grown facial hair drew a mixed response from friends and family. His cousin Brian Kelly is also going under the barber’s blade on the night and getting his goatee of 24 years shaved off.

“Marty said that he would cut it off to raise funds for St Luke’s and it all kicked off from there. He’s very excited and on a high. We want to try and get as big a response as possible for him.”

Anyone who would like to make a contribution to Marty’s fundraising efforts can do so on the night or through the Paypal account: Martysbeardshave@gmail.com.