Rangers Fans Growing Beards For Charity During Playoffs

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- With their first playoff game this Thursday at Madison Square Garden, the New York Rangers invited their fans to participate in a tradition and "Grow One for the Team" at their 2012 Beard-a-Thon.

WCBS 880's Paul Murnane On The Story

Fans showed up at MSG Monday and were joined by Rangers great Rod Gilbert to get their final shaves.

Four barber chairs were set up outside with stylists from Cutler Salon providing free shaves.

Participants in the Rangers Beard-a-Thon committed to maintain their beard as long as the Rangers remain in the playoffs and can invite family, friends, and business associates to pledge their playoff beards.

It's all to raise money for the Garden of Dreams Foundation.

Garden of Dreams is a 501c3 non-profit charity that works closely with all areas of The Madison Square Garden Company, including the New York Knicks, Rangers, Liberty, MSG Media, MSG Entertainment, and Fuse "to make dreams come true for kids facing obstacles."

"The only thing is I'm going to have to get some of that stuff to color it in, cause I'll have an old gray beard by that time," participant Jim Mitchell told WCBS 880 reporter Paul Murnane.

As for Gilbert, he dismissed playoff worries with the blue shirts going up against powerhouse Ottawa.

"We might as well take care of our business and not worry about them, and I think we're superior and we have a more complete team," he told Murnane.

The first 50 fans to get their final shave and create a page on the Rangers Beard-a-Thon website were entered to win playoff tickets.

If you're unwilling or unable to grow a beard, you can still participate in the effort by signing up at www.beardathon.com/rangers.

How are you showing your team spirit? Share your story in the comments section below!