A PAIR of Ipswich lawyers have ditched their razors in a bid to increase awareness of prostate cancer.Howard Catherall and Hugh Rowland, partners at Gotelee and Goldsmith in Elm Street, shunned shaving and grew facial hair as part of the Movember campaign, which highlights the dangers of the disease.

A PAIR of Ipswich lawyers have ditched their razors in a bid to increase awareness of prostate cancer.

Howard Catherall and Hugh Rowland, partners at Gotelee and Goldsmith in Elm Street, shunned shaving and grew facial hair as part of the Movember campaign, which highlights the dangers of the disease.

The duo, who dubbed themselves the Hairy Pleaders, today admitted their new look had drawn puzzled glances from colleagues - but had succeeded in getting the message across.

Mr Rowland, 48, said: “My family has been hit by this particular disease so it rang a bell with me.

“Because Howard and I are usually clean-shaven, people asked why on earth we were doing it, and then the conversation flows.

“It has provoked a discussion which wouldn't have happened otherwise.”

Mr Catherall, 35, added: “The reaction from colleagues has been that it's for a good cause - although in terms of compliments, they haven't been particularly forthcoming.”

The pair, who admitted the challenge had been “particularly itchy”, have since shaved off their goatees after completing the challenge throughout November.

Nearly 32,000 new cases of prostate cancer are diagnosed in the UK each year and 10,000 die from the disease, making it the most common cancer among men.

If you would like to sponsor Mr Rowland and Mr Catherall, visit www.movember.com/uk/donate and enter the registration number - 183455. Alternatively, make a cheque payable to The Prostate Cancer Charity, printing the registration number on the reverse. Cheques should be sent to The Prostate Cancer Charity, Movember, First Floor, Cambridge House, 100 Cambridge Grove, Hammersmith, London, W6 0LE.

For more information on prostate cancer, contact the Prostate Cancer Charity on 0800 0748383, e-mail info@prostate-cancer.org.uk or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk.