A WOKINGHAM resident is going clean shaven for charity – but it’s understandable as it’s been nearly a year since he last picked up a razor.
Sasan Starr-Padidar decided to stop shaving his beard in the first lockdown for a bit of fun, and now he’s planning to rid the facial hair next month in aid of Sebastian’s Action Trust.
The charity, which has bases in Crowthorne and Basingstoke, was created in memory of nine-year-old Sebastian Gates who died following a cancer diagnosis.
His last wish was to create a place where families could escape from hospitals and treatment programmes, and enjoy precious time together.
So far, Sasan has raised more than £1,000 for the charity, and says that if he reaches £5,000, he’ll shave his head too.
He decided to stop shaving when he began working from home on March 17, 2020.
“When the prime minister announced we were going into lockdown, I thought it would be quite fun to grow my hair and beard,” he explains.
And the Wokingham resident says that while his wife was keen on the facial hair at first, she now can’t wait for the big shave.
“She and my parents said they hated it, so I took the mature approach and decided to leave it for a whole year,” Sasan jokes.
However, he says living with the bushy beard hasn’t been easy and recently, it has been a “constant drama”.
“I can’t have a mouthful of food, I now have to eat with little spoons, and I really want a crepe from Joy Cafe but I’d have to eat it over the sink which isn’t fun,” he explains.
“So, over Christmas, I decided it was time to get rid of it.”
However, since his beard has grown so much, Sasan decided that rather than simply shaving it off, he would turn the event into a memorable charity fundraiser.
“My initial reaction was to raise money for a cancer charity, because I lost my mum to the illness in 2014,” Sasan explains.
“Then I looked into Sebastian’s Action Trust and the story really hit me.
“Sebastian was so selfless, positive and more mature than I will ever be, and he made me realise how short life is.
“It was a reality check for me.”
Within the first five days of setting up his fundraiser, Sasan raised nearly £1,000.
“When I saw the money I couldn’t believe it,” he says.
“My initial goal was to raise £500 and to see that much come in within a few days was unbelievable.”
Now, the Wokingham resident is very much looking forward to shaving his beard on Saturday, March 20 – and says he chose that specific date for a reason.
“It will mark pretty much one year since I stopped shaving my beard,” Sasan explains.
“It’s also the first day of spring, and it’s the Persian New Year as well.”
The holiday, called Nowruz, means ‘new day’. “It feels like the day was written in the stars,” he adds.
n To find out more about Sasan’s big shave, or to make a donation, visit: justgiving.com/fundraising/sas-starr
