Dad will brave a shave for charity

LEE Chatterley is having his beard shaved to raise funds for Sands. Pictured at Charlie's grave are, from left, grandmother, Diane Chatterley, grandmother, Nicky Rogers, mum, Hannah Chatterley, Poppy Chatterley, aged two and Lee

A LOVING dad has vowed to brave a shave for the first time in years for a cause very close to his family's heart.

But Lee Chatterley won't just be going under the blade, he's also taking wax strips on the chin to raise money for stillbirth and neonatal death charity Sands after the heartbreak of losing his son, Charlie, almost four years ago.

Lee and his wife, Hannah, were dealt the devastating blow of Charlie's death in the 41st week of pregnancy.

Hannah had to endure a 13-hour labour at Royal Oldham Hospital before the couple could meet and say their final goodbyes to their newborn son.

Since then they've been a huge support to others in the borough going through the trauma of stillbirth and miscarriage.

Lee has set up a group on Facebook to help other fathers who he says are sometimes overlooked in the grieving process.

Lee's mum Diane says the family has been asking him to lose the beard for some time. When he said he would only do it to raise £100 for SANDS, the facial hair ball began rolling.

Two days after he announced the close shave plans donations were up to £550 and five days later they passed £1,000.

So there's no going back for Lee - who says he regularly gets compared to singer "Rag 'n' Bone Man" - and he's bristling with nerves at the thought of losing his perfectly groomed pride and joy.

"I haven't had a clean shave for four-and-a-half years so to say I've nervous about it is an understatement," said Lee (27), from Hathershaw, now dad to two-year-old Poppy.

"I love my beard and I wanted to grow it to my knees! I've had a beard for as long as I can remember. But it's a fantastic cause and I've said I'll let the highest bidder shave it. I said if I raised over £1,000 I'd wax it as well so now I have to be as good as my word. I also said I'd let people rip off a strip for £5 a time. I must be mad!"

Lee said families dealing with such a loss need all the help they can get to cope with the aftermath.

"I am so proud of my wife and couldn't have got through it without her or the help of all my friends and family when Charlie was born.

"After Charlie was still born we had a massive amount of support from Oldham Hospital but generally there isn't a lot of help out there locally, particularly for dads.

"That's why I set up the Facebook page.

"Sands is a wonderful charity and really does help parents."

Lee, a support worker, was intending to have his beard shaved at his mum's house in Green Lane, Garden Suburbs, but there are so many people wanting to support and spectate, they have hired The Pavilion for the spectacle.

Costa, Tesco and the Co-op have all donated hampers for a raffle and there will be an ice cream van at the fundraising event at midday on May 29.

Admission will be £1 and everyone is welcome. For more information go to The Chatterley's Beard Wax - Sands Fundraiser Facebook page.

To support Lee go to justgiving.com/lee-Chatterley.