A DAD-of-two is shaving his beard off to raise money for an Atherton teenager left paralysed in an accident abroad.

Mike Bloor, 33, of Lancaster Avenue, Tyldesley, has been growing his beard for two-and-a-half years and has now agreed to have it shaved off in return for donations.

Mike, who owns Michael Anthony’s Hair Affair on Market Street, Atherton, will make the cut on May 14 and says all the money raised will go towards the £35,000 needed to help his client Cory Peyton get private treatment.

Eighteen-year-old Cory, of Keats Close, damaged his spinal cord after he dived into a swimming pool and hit his head on the floor in July 2013.

His family are trying to raise the £35,000 needed for the private stem cell treatment in Thailand that could see Cory walk again.

Mike said: “My clients always ask me to shave my beard off and I always say no but one day Michelle, Cory’s mum, asked if I would shave it off for Cory. Of course I said yes.

“It will be traumatic getting my beard shaved off, I’ve been growing it for so long and I go to different barber shops to have it shaped, spending a lot of time and money.

"My beard has become a part of me but I am doing this to help get Cory walking again.”

Mike’s daughter Molly has made a fundraising box in the salon with pictures of Cory and her dad with his beard to encourage people in the salon to donate.

He will have his beard shaved off at a special charity night to raise money for Cory at Atherton Laburnum Rovers F.C, on Spa Road.

 To donate visit gofundme.com/corypeyton.