Student leverages 14.5-inch long beard for charity

YPSILANTI, Mich. (AP) - An Eastern Michigan University student is leveraging his 14.5-inch long beard for charity.

Ryan Huntington’s “Save it or Shave it” contest is raising money to the American Heart Association and Huntington’s Heart Walk team. Contributors can either donate money with the direction to shave the beard or to save it. If it’s saved he’ll grow the beard another 12 months.

Huntington has until Wednesday to raise money.

He’s been growing out his beard for 20 months. He tells The Ann Arbor News (https://bit.ly/1tU5HOR ) that he’s fond of his beard, but “could go both ways” in terms of shaving it or keeping it. He says it will get “crazier and crazier” if he keeps growing it.

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Information from: The Ann Arbor News, https://www.mlive.com/ann-arbor