Fr Raymond’s ‘haircut for Habitat’ raises an incredible £25,000 for charity

Fr Raymond McCullagh, who is chaplain at Ulster University as well as assistant priest at St Patrick’s in Portrush, decided to raise funds for Habitat as a long-time volunteer with the charity.

Like many of us, he was suffering from ‘lockdown locks’ and organised a charity ‘haircut for Habitat: shave for Shelter’ in the hope of raising £1,000.

In just one week, that target had been smashed with £3,000 being donated. Fr Raymond was then joined in his fundraising by Fiona Fitzpatrick and both agreed to take the fundraiser a step further by getting their heads shaved.

On World Habitat Day, Monday, October 5, Fr Raymond and Fiona both ‘braved the shave’ live on Facebook from the Marian Hall at Star of the Sea Church, Portstewart.
After hairdressers Noleen and Mark completed the shaves abiding by Covid-19 safety measures, the ‘hair raising’ efforts resulted in an incredible final total of over £25,000 - enough to build six houses in Ethiopia.

Fr Raymond said: “Thanks so much to Noleen and Mark for their professional and caring expertise. Thanks also to Bridgeen for recording the Facebook live stream and the Parish Office staff for providing refreshments afterwards.

”Donations keep on coming and we’ve gone over £25,000! This is beyond our wildest dreams and it will make real dreams come true for families in Ethiopia. “All proceeds will build not just houses but community and hope.   

“A sincere thanks for making this World Habitat Day one we will never forget. Tonight my head is a little colder but my heart has been warmed by the power of human kindness. Ameseginalehu - which means thank you in Ethiopian.”