A PHOTOGRAPHER who shaved off his trademark beard for charity has raised more than £3,000 to help vulnerable families in the North West.

Pavel Szylobryt pledged to banish his bushy beard to raise funds for Child Action North West, which provides foster care and community projects supporting some of the region’s most disadvantaged communities.

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The Ribble Valley photographer hoped to raise £1,000 for the charity, but was overwhelmed by the response he received to his Just Giving Page ‘Farewell My Beard’.

And when his clients Maurizio and Cinzia Bocchi, of La Locanda Italian restaurant in Gisburn, found out about his plans, they agreed to host a charity lunch with a raffle and auction to boost his fundraising efforts.

Pav, who runs TVPAV, said: “I’ve had my beard for around two years, so shaving it off was a bit like losing an old friend.

“I never thought it would raise so much money, but I’d like to say a huge thank-you to everyone who made a donation, to Maurizio and Cinzia for putting on such a great event to help with the fundraising and to 5th Avenue Barbers in Clitheroe for nursing me through the process of removing my beard.

“CANW is a wonderful charity and it’s great to know so many people will benefit from me having a shave.”

Each year Child Action Northwest works with over 8000 vulnerable children, young adults and their families in some of the most deprived areas of the North West, addressing issues before they reach crisis point through a range of support services.

Pav said he choose the charity after driving past its headquarters on many occasions and wondering what it did. Staff then showed him all the good work it does when he called in.

Nicola Terry, fundraising and creative partnerships manager for CANW, said: “We’re really grateful to Pav for taking the big decision to shave off his beard for us.

“He’s raised a fantastic sum of money which will help to make a real difference.”