IT WOULD be hard to find a beard quite as magnificient as the one belonging to Callington Town Crier Dennis Cook, but in three weeks time it will be going, going gone as he raises money for a charity close to his heart. Dennis has been without his trademark beard for just three short periods in 30 years but this time he has a very good reason for sacrificing it — to support the cause which helped his wife Jennie through breast cancer. The sponsored shave at the Bull's Head public house in Callington will be for the Primrose Foundation, which raised £500,000 to build a specialist breast care centre at Derriford Hospital. The snip and shave will take place on February 10 at 1.30pm. Dennis, who has been town crier for seven years, said: 'The centre serves the local community and my wife received wonderful treatment there when she was diagnosed with breast cancer three years ago. 'Ever since I have been able to grow a beard, I have had one — three times it has been off, usually when I am trying to get a job, but I grow it back because I like it.' Dennis, who lives at Albaston, said his beard was a talking point when people met him and very often they thought it was a false one because it was so spectacular. 'I usually keep it trimmed but I grew it longer for the Brunel celebrations last year,' he said. 'The moustache is coming off as well but the hair is not coming off my head.' Some £200 has already been promised in sponsorship but Dennis is hoping as many people as possible will join him in his fundraising venture. Sponsorship forms are available at various businesses in Callington and the surrounding area as well as at the town hall. One person who will be glad to see the beard go is Dennis' wife Jennie, whose illness is now in remission. She said: 'I prefer him without a beard because he looks so much younger. 'He thinks the beard goes with the job of being a town crier — it looks the part.' Jennie said what her husband was doing was fantastic. 'It will really count for something,' she added. The Primrose Foundation continues to raise funds in order to support the work of the breast care centre at Derriford Hospital.