Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s Groah Noah campaign, which was launched this October during Hospice Care Week, has raised approximately £3,500.  The campaign encouraged people to grow a beard to raise money to support the work it does with life-limited and life-threatened children and their families in North London.

Around 20 people took part in the fundraiser.  As well as giving their razors a rest, fundraisers set up JustGiving fundraising pages and then kept Noah’s Ark updated regularly on their facial growth by posting regular Facebook and Twitter posts! Participants included Barnet Football Club captain Graham Stack and his teammates Harry Crawford and Jack Saville, who between them raised £800.

Graham said of the campaign: “When it comes to helping children I’m always happy to help out and especially with Noah’s Ark because it’s so close to the club ground and part of the local community.” However, he admitted that his own children were a bit confused by his new beard. “The kids kept stroking it which was a bit worrying because I think they thought it was a hamster, but it was all in good fun.”

Other companies who took part in the campaign were Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents and Estates and Management (E & M) Property Services based in Finchley.

David Smith, Director at Martyn Gerrard said: “My colleagues and I have spent a month of selfless endeavour to achieve our goal. Every spare moment, seven days a week, 24 hours a day have been spent putting everything we have into growing our beards.

The itching has gone, but it is quite disconcerting that the hair on my chin is now longer, thicker and more plentiful than that on my head.  But today it is over; tonight I can get the razor out and be rid of the face fuzz”.  

Elgin and Paul from E & M summed up their efforts as follows “Groah Noah was a great, if slightly itchy, way to raise money and awareness for Noah’s Ark.  We had a lot of fun growing our beards for such a good cause".

For further information about Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice, please contact: 

Priya Singh

Community Fundraising Manager

T: 020 8449 8877

E: psingh@noahsarkhospice.org.uk

Lorraine Feldman

Press Officer 

T: 020 8449 8877