New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Singer songwriter Michael Armstrong, 42, has signed up for Decembeard and will be going grizzly this Christmas in aid of bowel cancer.
Beating Bowel Cancer's Decembeard fundraising campaign asks men to stop shaving for the month of December to raise funds to support those affected by bowel cancer, which is the UK's second biggest cancer killer.
Michael has a very personal reason for getting involved. He says: "Following months of bowel discomfort when I was 37, I had a colonoscopy. Two lumps were removed and it was a very worrying 14 days whilst I waited for the tests to come back.
"The result showed that had the lumps gone undiscovered, they could have turned cancerous. I now have to be checked every three years. Last year's check-up revealed a further lump which was again removed safely.
"From believing through my teens, 20's and 30's that I was somehow indestructible, that was a real wake up call.
"That's why I'm supporting Beating Bowel Cancer's Decembeard campaign and hope to encourage other men to get involved, get talking about the disease and help to raise funds for the charity which does so much to support those affected by bowel cancer.
"And it's so simple. All you have to do is ditch the razor for a month and raise funds for doing it. What could be easier!"
Each year more than 41,000 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer, but if caught early, more than 90% of cases can be treated successfully.
Following his cancer scare, Michael realised that time was catching up with him and if he wanted to achieve his dreams he had to do something about it. A lucky break and an introduction into the world of music a few years ago turned Michael's life upside down.
A married man with 3 young sons, Michael took the big plunge and gave up the family construction business in the hope of realising his life-long dream of a career as a successful singer/songwriter/musician! The risk paid off and the last 3 years has seen him gaining great support in the world of music, not just in the UK but overseas.
Currently on tour, Michael's recently released self-titled debut album has already topped the iTunes and Amazon charts.
If you would like to follow in his footsteps and sign up for Decembeard, go to www.decembeard.org. You can also check out the campaign @Decembeard_UK #decembeard.
The funds raised will go to Beating Bowel Cancer. The charity relies entirely on voluntary donations and by raising funds through Decembeard, men can help fund a range of vital services that give people with bowel cancer help, hope and reassurance.
