A UK woman battling hirsutism is growing a moustache to raise money for Movember after being inspired by one of her friends.

Siobhain Fletcher, 36, has battled the condition since she was 17 and shaves her facial hair every second day to keep it at bay.

The condition, brought on by polycystic ovarian syndrome, has led Ms Fletcher to suffer from depression and low self-esteem.

But she told the Daily Mail she has decided to face the issue head-on by signing up for Movember.

"It was a spur of the moment thing," she said.

"My friend came to me and said he was growing a moustache and told me about Movember. I said – 'I’ll do it with you'.

"I've had overwhelming support so far. My sister's initial reaction was to offer me £50 not to do it. My friends agreed with her - but only because they were worried about negative reaction.

"I said 'I'm doing it anyway' - I'm stubborn and pig-headed. And it's gone from a comment on Facebook to the local papers - and now I'm on television.

Ms Fletcher said she wasn't growing the moustache as a stunt and that she wanted to help raise awareness of male prostate cancer and to inspire people self-esteem issues.

"People look as beautiful with facial hair as without it. People are neurotic about it - but I want them to see they can get out there. It's not as bad as they think," she said.

Ms Fletcher has so far raised £700 for prostate cancer.

Read more at the Daily Mail

Originally published as Woman's mo matches it with the boys