Andy McCabe's beard has been part of his life for 30 years - but all that will change when he shaves it off to help a sick woman.

The 47-year-old from Thackley, Bradford, is to shave it off in two stages, the first half on Saturday at The Great Northern pub and the second at The Shoulder of Mutton a week later.

More than £1,000 has been raised by the sponsored shave which will go towards funding the £20,000 cost of Becky Yeadon's treatment at a hospital in Germany.

The 23-year-old of Bourne Street, Thackley, suffers from the painful disorder Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which has left her wheelchair-bound and means she can only walk with the aid of a frame.

Next month Dr Peter Behrens, an orthopaedic surgeon at the University of Lubeck in Ratzeburger, is to fly to Bradford to investigate the possibility of her being treated there.

Andy said: "It will be rather colder than before! I'm sure I will miss my beard. I've known Becky and her family for quite some time and it's all in a good cause."

A friend of Andy's, local DJ Alvin Blossom, said: "April 1 and 8 will be momentous milestones for him. He's lived in Thackley all his life, but no-one really knows what he looks like. I think he is a bit nervous about it.

"Since his voice broke and the first hint of five o'clock shadow arrived, Andy's never been Been near a razor. In truth, I don't think the razor had been invented when he was a teenager!"

And Les Sykes, who has organised the fundraising for the event, added: "I must have known him 30 years and I can never remember him without a beard. He couldn't decide which pub to have it done in so he decided to do it in both in the end."

Becky's father Neville said: "It's brilliant. It just speaks volumes for the people out there. More than £7,000 has been raised for her. The operation alone could cost £7,000 and each day in the hospital a further £2,500. It's nice when people are conscious of other people's problems and ready to help."

Becky, who is being treated for her condition at St Luke's Hospital in Bradford, underwent a minor operation last week at Bradford Royal Infirmary to repair two dislocated fingers and a thumb.

She spent 18 months in BRI before being discharged last year. Her mother Anne refused to accept her daughter's limited existence and sent out an SOS by e-mail which was seen by Dr Behrens.

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