His beard is coming off for a cause close to his family’s heart –the pregnancy and infant loss support organisation Bears Of Hope. 

Mr Phillips and his wife Hannah sadly lost two babies within less than seven months last year.

Max was born sleeping at 20 weeks on May 8, 2015, and Knox was also stillborn, at just 15 weeks, on November 27.

They received a ‘Bear of Hope’, donated by another bereaved family – a gesture provided to reinforce the understanding they are not alone.

Bears Of Hope also provides parent-led and psychologist-facilitated support groups, counselling and a resource library, among other services.

Mrs Phillips said the organisation was a big lifeline for their family.

“It (infant loss) is such a common thing, but it’s such a taboo subject,” she said.

“It helps to know you’re not alone.”

Mr Phillips had not shaved for a week prior to Max’s birth, and a couple of months later decided to keep the beard for a year.

“Hannah said to me ‘are you gonna get rid of that thing?’ and I said no, I’m going to keep it and do something for Bears of Hope,” he said.

His fundraising campaign will run until May 8 – which would have been Max’s first birthday – but having more than doubled his fundraising target of $1500, the beard will come off eight days early.

The great shave will take place at the Khartoum Hotel, Kitchener on April 30 from 5pm.

Donations can also be made online here.