LAST week, Les Stone shaved off his 40-year-old moustache for charity.
“This morning I woke up and thought: “Oh God, I’ve lost a good old friend,” he says.
In fact Les has given himself a cold, although whether that’s related to stress or just the loss of a powerful germ catcher, he doesn’t know.
“People have said ‘Why don’t you get rid of it’, -  but it’s always been part of my character. Then I thought, ‘Why not do it for a cause’?”
The cause is the Kingfisher Trust, which comprises parents of eight young adults with combined physical and intellectual disabilities.
Trust chairman Michael Faherty says: “We want to provide for long term care and support of our children outside their family homes. We’ve aspired to something better than what is currently available.”
People with such disabilities were institutionalised until as late as 2006. Now, after heavy campaigns for deinstitutionalisation, those with “very high needs” either remain in their family homes their entire lives, or live in community houses where they are supported or cared for.
After three years, the Kingfisher Trust now has a house on Karori Road that will be renovated before four of their children move in, next May. Rent and care is paid with Government funding.
“Les’ fundraising will go towards providing them with a more meaningful life,” says Faherty…things like a therapeutic spa, a vegetable garden and a flat screen wall TV, “which may seem like a luxury, but when you’ve a number of wheelchairs it’s important to get it off the floor to make space and avoid damage”.
Les aimed to raise $10,000 for shaving off his mo, but he made $12,000.
“I’m chuffed,” he says. And losing the mo has an added benefit.
“I think my wife quite likes the new man. Everyone tells me I look ten years younger. I’ve been watching women getting botox and surgery on TV but all I’ve had to do is get rid of my mo.”