I've signed up to become a "Bookfella", one of fifty men who have each pledged to raise £1,000 for the Scottish Book Trust.

During November, I'm going to try to grow my first beard - I've always avoided sporting a beard in the past because I'm worried that it'll make me look too much like my Dad, who has some fine facial hair.

Please sponsor me in my attempt to lose my clean-shaven visage and end my days as a beardless wonder.

The Scottish Book Trust wants to use the £50,000 raised by its Bookfellas to fund its literacy programmes, which change the lives of people in Scotland through reading and writing.

Bookfellas also aims to encourage more men to read for pleasure and to highlight the importance of dads reading to their children. Find out more at http://scottishbooktrust.com/bookfellas