Hi, and thanks for visiting this page.

To easier understand the reasoning behind what I'm doing, it's maybe best to give you a little back story and introduce you to one of the best men I've ever had the honour of knowing.

Michael Harney was a very close friend of mine. You know, the kind that's close enough to call each other 'brother' and reeeeally mean it. Michael was always a source of comedy, insight and inspiration; continually offering sentiments of encouragement & laughter. Always thinking of others before himself. But it was in Mikes attitude to his own struggles that he truly inspired many people. Mike was born with Cystic Fibrosis and fought his entire life with the aggressive lung disease, with regular trips to Papworth Hospital, many surgeries and eventually a double lung transplant 4 years ago. Michael's attitude to his illness was one of a warrior, always looking forwards, fighting and taking every chance he was given. Mike even smashed all records after his double lung transplant when he was back home after just 11 days! Mike worked closely with the incredible specialists at Papworth Hospital, tirelessly striving towards a healthier future.

Michael always had limitless good things to say about Papworth Hospital & it's staff; knowing he owed his life, on several occasions, to their quick thinking & deep knowledge. So once he felt stable after his transplant he decided to start raising some  money for the hospital that worked so tirelessly for Mike and all their other 10000 patients they work with per year. Michael began a "No-Shave Year" incentive, raising money using this website to raise a large amount of cash for Papworth. To celebrate the moment of truth, Mike traveled here to Sweden where the BIG SHAVE took place... just so happened to be a true old school wet shave booked at one of poshest barbershops in Scandinavia; a regular stop for many models, musicians & other manly muses. Michael shaved off his wild face hair, and with it looked about 20 years younger, and we celebrated by spending a week in Sweden having an absolute blast. Michael had talked about being more active in the charity work field & looked forwards to coming up with crazy ideas & locations for future projects, always with Papworth Hospital in mind.

Unfortunately, in April of 2016 Michael's body began to reject his lungs and his was diagnosed with chronic rejection, meaning he was back on the organ transplant list. Despite his worsening lung condition, Mike maintained his 'forward focused' attitude and, even with oxygen strapped to his back, he would continue to lift weights & dream big of future escapades with his friends & family.

Sadly Michael got a virus early November 2016, and passed away surrounded by his friends & family on Thursday 3rd November 2016.

Michael left behind a truly wonderful & closely knit family, a network of incredible friends & an entire entourage of aquaintances & familiars that he had affected in the deepest, most moving way. We all feel much poorer for losing Michael, but we are all infinitely richer for having known the great man.

The Harney Family have been very active in their charity work for Papworth, and with the Hospital currently resizing and refurbing, with a view to open in 2018. So now is an optimal to make sure the hospital get a cash injection and can make even more of a positive impact for even more people in years to come.

Which brings me to my own little foray into fundraising for Papworth Hospital. Michael was always big on trying to get me to grow a "yeard" as he would call it - to refrain from shaving for a calendar year. He would say "your beard is made for it bro!"... but alas I could never make it more than 4 months without succumbing to the evermore alluring glint of the razor in my bathroom. So, in honour of Michael's previous fundraising activities, the diligent work of the staff at his hospital, but most of all in loving memory of Mikes incessant nagging to "GET ON WITH A YEARD MATE!", I will now indeed be getting on with a yeard. Mate.

To ensure my yeard is accurate I will be shaving one calendar year after I started growing, and since I have not shaved since mid-september, that will mean that the beard will be shaved off (potentially chainsawed off!) on Tuesday 12th September, two days after Michael's birthday.

Please share this message, donate generously and let's together ensure that a very worthy hospital gets the recognition & reward it deserves.

And don't forget to become organ donors if you ain't already!!

Stay tuned for updates folks.

THERE WILL BE HAIR!