Construction team on major Mayo project raise big sum for Sunflower Children's Hospice

The construction team behind the Crossmolina Flood Relief Scheme have successfully raised an impressive €20,000 for Sunflower Children's Hospice simply by shaving off their facial hair!

What originally began as a modest individual fundraising idea by Adrian Fergus quickly transformed into a massive, site-wide charity campaign.

Nearly a dozen project members joined the cause, cultivating their facial hair for months before the main event.

The dedicated team members who ditched their razors alongside Adrian Fergus were: Enda McGowan, Lorcan Finnerty, Nigel Barrett, Martin Bourke, Diarmaid Reynolds, Pat Marren, Pat Duffy, Ray Tighe, Matthew Thompson and Richard McGaugh.

The fundraising night took place on a Friday evening in April at Hiney’s Bar & Restaurant, Crossmolina – an establishment that has continuously supported the flood scheme project.

Project manager Eamon McAndrew served as the MC while local professionals Darren Walsh (barber) and Victoria from Pearl Beauty volunteered their time and services to shave the team. The high-energy evening also featured a fast-paced live charity auction orchestrated by team member Pat Duffy.

The final fundraising tally completely shattered the initial target of a few thousand euros. This substantial €20,000 donation is explicitly earmarked for a major healthcare milestone in Co. Mayo: the development of the highly anticipated Sunflower Children's Hospice facility located in Castlebar.

To celebrate the achievement, an official cheque handover took place at the construction site on July 2 last. Martina Jennings and Frank Mulvihill from the Mayo Roscommon Hospice Foundation attended the site to accept the funds.

Choosing a backdrop that reflected their daily work, the construction team posed for official photographs in front of the newly constructed Mullenmore Bridge structure.