It's official - I'll be speaking at a number of masses in my local churches to inform the parishioners about my upcoming event.

I'll be speaking this coming Sunday and also Sunday next.

I collected today outside the Glounthaune church and Little Island church in my local parish.

I spoke during both masses explaining why I am collecting money for ISPCC Childline as part of the 100minds programme.

The parishioners were incredibly generous, contributing €695.45 in total.

I also handed out sponsorship cards which I designed and printed the day before, which parishioners will use to raise further funding from friends and relatives for the Beard Shave event.

With 4 weeks to go until the event, the finer details have really started coming together.

After tracking down his mobile barber and calling into his house, I have a local barber, Ian, who has happily come on board for the beard shave.

After calling into several businesses, I now have a handful of amazing raffle prizes from local businesses with numerous other leads to follow up on.

Locals are now recognising me and approaching me expressing their excitement for the upcoming event. They have also shared some very useful ideas for both fundraising and the event.

I am now gearing up to speak and collect at mass tonight at 6pm and tomorrow morning at 9.30am.

This is proving to be an incredible experience and I cannot wait for what's to come.

After another two speeches at my local church, the 6pm mass on Saturday and the 9.30am mass on Sunday, I have surpassed my target before the event has even taken place. Furthermore, locals are filling out sponsorship cards which I expect to get back before March 27th. That will generate even more donations.

I am delighted to say that I raised €291.20 from collecting after the 9.30am mass, and €123.00 after the 6pm mass.

All eyes to the €2,000 mark now which I feel is well within reach.

After a lot of work and calling around to local businesses, I've been lucky enough to get some fantastic raffle prizes! Massive thank you to my mother for helping me out with this!

Local Business: - Fitzpatrick's Shop, Glounthaune - Heavenly Hair, Glounthaune - The Elm Tree, Glounthaune - GoSafari Adventure Centre, Glounthaune - Ballyseedy, Glounthaune - Kartmania, Little Island - Al's Restaurant, Little Island - Little Island Pharmacy, Little Island - Ryan's SuperValu, Glanmire - Jolly Jars, Glounthaune - Con Dennehy and Co, Glounthaune - Patricia Quinlan Interior Design, Glounthaune

Huge thank you to all these fantastic local businesses for sponsoring the event!

I am planning an event for Easter Sunday. I contacted my local priest, Father Ted, with the aim of participating in a community event to raise much-needed funds for ISPCC Childline. To my delight, he gladly came on board.

I am in the process of creating and designing sponsorship cards to give out to locals, challenging each of them to raise money for the event.

The event itself will take place on Easter Sunday, March 27th after the 12pm mass, one of the busiest masses of the year. The beardshave will be the main focus of the event, with additional funds being raised through a raffle and facepainting for the kids.

Watch this space for more updates.

With Sunday's event fast approaching, I felt it was apt to update you on where I'm at.

The first of the sponsorship cards have come back, raising a total of €194.00.

Posters have gone up in all the local shops and parish landmarks, to remind locals about the event.

Setting up the venue begins tomorrow and I'm beginning to get really excited for this 'Father Ted Beardshave'.

My goal for the 100minds campaign has been to raise €2,000, thereby doubling the target, so let's hope I can achieve it on Sunday!

After weeks of preparation and fundraiser, the beardshave took place on Easter Sunday, March 27th 2016. There were over 100 people at the event and we managed to raise a lot of money for ISPCC Childline.

Thank you to the team in the Glounthaune Parish Office, Fr. Ted, the hairdresser Ian, members of the local newspaper, the Evening Echo, who came and took photos of the event and wrote an article about the fundraiser in the days following the event.

Thank you to the wonderful sponsors who provided us with fantastic raffle prizes. The prize giving ceremony took over 15 minutes, which kind of sums up how generous local businesses have been.

Thank you to the local people, who I could not have done this event without. Your support and generosity will go such a long way for Childline and their vital services.