WHEN Tralee man, Junior Locke, came up with the idea for a fundraiser where 100 men would raise €100 each for Recovery Haven by shaving off their hair/beards, never did he think it would snowball to this.

But that target of €10,000 proved to be modest and the funds realised from the ‘Movember Challenge’ idea will more than likely be around €20,000.

Many of the 140 participants, most of whom raised far more than the €100 required, gathered in The Rose Hotel on Thursday night for a mass shave-off.

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Watched by their families, a team of barbers — from The Barber in Tralee, Sean Taaffe and Kerry ETB students — went to work on the beards, moustaches, and hair of the participants, who hailed from all over the county.

Radio Kerry’s Deirdre Walsh was the MC for the evening and she saw her colleagues John Drummey, Jerry O’Sullivan and Andrew Morrissey all go under the blade.

Well known Tralee man Billy Ryle was another taking part and he lost the beard after nearly 40 years…although I suspect it may make a reappearance!

Another young man, Christopher Tearle, dedicated his shave-off to his dad, Paul who works as a photographer for Kerry’s Eye and is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.

The Rose Hotel event was one of a few shave-offs held around the county, with others in Glenbeigh, Killarney and one in The Slieve Mish Bar last weekend which raised €4,800.

Well done to everyone who took part in such a fantastic event for a great cause. Scroll down for photos…