A veteran bartender spent a year growing a massive beard — so he could shave it off for charity.

Adam Kirk, who works at Bermuda Fun Golf in Dockyard, started growing the beard last Christmas with a view to cutting it off this festive season to help the children’s ward at the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital.

Mr Kirk said he was inspired to help out in memory of close friend, mechanic Jan DeSilva, 32, who died of his injuries after a bike accident at a notorious black spot on Crow Lane in 2001.

He added: “The children’s ward was a place dear to Jan’s heart — he convinced me to take part in a charity head shave for the children’s ward more than 20 years ago.

“The money I raised for the ward then surprised me. I’m hoping to do the same thing again.”

Mr Kirk has already raised several hundred dollars and plans to go clean-shaven at Docksider bar in Hamilton on Saturday night between 7pm and 10pm.

He said: “I started growing the beard last Christmas — now I’m taking it off for a very good cause.

“I’ve had some big donations and a lot of small donations and I’ll be collecting money on Saturday night too. It all counts.”

Mr Kirk said he had mobilised friends in the licensed trade to help him raise as much as possible, with donor sheets available at Bermuda Fun Golf, Docksider, Flanagan’s, the Hog Penny, Coconut Rock and The Beach, all in Hamilton.

He added: “It’s Christmas and it’s a time for giving — the staff at the children’s ward give all year round and this is a great opportunity for Bermuda to give them something back and help sick kids.”