But by the end of April it will be gone as the Richardson family raises $10,000 for Bowel Cancer Australia in their Beard Off for Bowel Cancer effort.

The decision to take on a close shave is a way for Matt to support Jill who has diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2015.

"I must admit I started growing it because (Jill) hated it," Matt said. "She made it quite clear she didn't like it.

"Jill said she wanted to do some family photos, so I decided to the right thing (and shave it) to raise some money."

Jill was diagnosed in 2015 when she went in for a check-up. The first treatment involved Jill losing 15cm of her bowel and undergoing chemotherapy.

"We believed that was going to be it," Matt said. "From initial reaction of 'it's cancer' and shitting ourselves, we didn't realise the fight we were up against. We have heard of friends having cancer, then surgery or chemotherapy and walking away."

In 2016, the cancer spread to Jill's lungs resulting in 30 per cent of both lungs being removed. The next year it returned to her lungs, lymph nodes and the adrenal gland on her kidney.

All the way through, Jill kept fighting each remission.

"I don't say it often enough but she really is an incredible woman," Matt said. "What frustrates me day to day - her stubbornness - has got her through. It probably would have crumbled a majority of people."

Along the way Matt said the family has had wonderful support from their community.

"St Joseph's school (where the kids go) are fantastic but we're very proud. The first two diagnoses in Jill's bowel and lungs, we didn't accept help," Matt said.

"We thought we've got this. But when came back the third or fourth time, we had to accept help. It's been a learning curve to learn to accept help.

"After her the third or fourth relapse, our friends didn't accept us saying no any more and set up GoFundMe page. They had an auction and a donation page and raised $20,000 for us."

That money saw Jill and Matt travel to Sydney regularly for treatment form a doctor specialising in Eastern and Western medicine.

He stabilised Jill's cancer for about six months, enabling her to go on a bucket-list family holiday with Matt and their children Cooper, Jesse and Sienna to Yosemite National park in the US.

The fundraiser is being run online through Every Day Hero. Two of Matt's friends will also sacrifice their beards for the cause.

"Stephen (who we met) in the US and another mate of mine in Frankston make my beard pathetic," Matt said. "It's good to have that support and mates, who more attached to their beards than I am, so willing to do that is fantastic. We are hoping to shave it on April 23. Jools for Jim were organised to shave but because of coronavirus, they can't even trim beards. So it might a Facebook live and Jill will shave it."

Currently, Matt's fundraiser has reached almost $6500 of its $10,000 target.

Matt said beyond the money for Bowel Cancer Australia, the fundraiser was also about raising awareness.

"One reason we (started the fundraiser) was we don't see as much awareness for bowel cancer," he said.

"You see breast cancer and leukemia foundations have good backing but bowel cancer funding doesn't seem as readily available. I got onto Bowel Cancer Australia and everything raised goes to bowel cancer whether it is research or (support). We wanted it to be specific to Jill's illness. Also it's an awareness thing. Jill puts a lot of stuff on Facebook, not for self pity or attention but to inform people."

To support Matt and Jill Richardson's Beard Off for Bowel Cancer visit www.give.everydayhero.com/au/beard-off-for-bowel-cancer