As part of the series of charitable shaves, Mayor Tomislav Šuta also shaved off his beard. "From what I understand, this is spreading to other cities as well, so I expect it will gain an international dimension because it's truly a worthwhile initiative," the mayor said after his shave.
Co-organiser Marko Sučić explained that citizens contribute not only through shaving but also via online donations. Local secondary school graduates also took part in the charitable shaves.
Ivana Krce, a teacher at the Secondary School of Electrical Engineering, who has participated in the event for the past nine years, brought around 30 students, most of whom shaved their beards. There were a few mustache shaves, and three students who wanted to take part but had no facial hair chose to donate their hair instead.
"I think a good job has been done. For years I've been trying to raise awareness among students and the public about preventive health checks. Our numbers increase every year, and I believe this is something that will have a long-term impact," said Krce.
The Bearded Auction began with a motorcycle gathering called Bearded Ride with Balls. The charitable shaving continues alongside performances by nine artists marking the nine years of the auction.
In the afternoon, attendees will be able to watch the Hajduk vs Dinamo derby together, after which the shaving of the longest beards will take place.