Last year I (semi) randomly met Sir Richard Branson for about two minutes. 

For me, it was the ultimate elevator pitch - literally just outside an elevator. 

I told him how we lost a mate to melanoma and we started a charity in his honour called Beard Season. 

Every winter from then on we've booked ourselves a skin check, grown our beards and used them to encourage others to do the same. I kept growing mine after people started to write in saying they might not be here if they hadn't met one of us. A reminder to keep it going. As part of this I've taken a picture with someone with a beard every day since his funeral - posting it to social media and challenging them, their friends and family to get a skin check too. 

(If you're wondering "why beards?" - blokes are the most at risk of melanoma, and also the hardest to convince to see a doctor for a skin check, so we needed a conversation starter, a sign of commitment and strength of character - plus no one had beards seven years ago and we wanted to give it a crack).

So, I asked perhaps the most famous beard in business for a photo. He humbly obliged. We shook hands and parted ways. 

Now most of this probably came across as a nervous, giggly mumble. So I didn't expect what happened next... 

A month and a half later his team wrote to us saying THE Richard Branson loved what we were doing and wanted to become a #BeardSeasonAmbassador. Mind blown. He published an amazing article on the Virgin website and across all his social media. Reaching about 30 million people. Such a generous gesture. 

https://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/great-beards-come-great-responsibility#.V58SHf4pZto.facebook

I immediately started planning a follow up. 

Then... 

He crashed his bike on Necker Island and was very luck to survive. 

Brexit happened. Then Trump. 

I thought it best to hold my horses until there was a little clear air in the world. Well. Two weeks ago the skies broke open and our planets aligned. One of his friends just so happened to be organising a leadership camp for entrepreneurs and had a couple of spots free. I was introduced to her through one of our ambassadors from Ravenshoe (Australia's Beard Capital) and after hearing our story and some thorough questioning she selected me as one of the 30 to attend a one week training program on Necker Island with Sir Richard. Cue mind blow #2. 

The timing is impeccable. 

I want this year's Beard Season to be truly monumental. 

Initiating some big community partnerships and really stepping up our game with free skin check sessions at events and festivals. Plus, I have a serious seven year itch…  This is the year I want to sell my beard. A beard I’ve had since the death of our mate Wes Bonny. Untrimmed. Wild and wise (well getting there..). A beard on a mission to meet some of the most inspiring people in the world and save as many lives as it can along the way. The year of the #MillionDollarBeard. 

http://www.executivestyle.com.au/the-man-with-the-milliondollar-beard-gp8uvy

Of course, I said yes. 

So at the start of May I’ve agreed to fly across the world and take part in what could be a very big stepping stone for the Beard Season movement. A week to align our strategy, learn and grow (excuse the pun). Potentially taking us on an even more exciting path than the one we’ve already paved. 

All we need to do now is muster the moolah to make it happen....

Now...  

I know you're probably thinking is this Branson bloke is a billionaire so why should a little Aussie charity with zero cash have to pay to visit him. It's a good question. But this all part of a high caliber entrepreneur / leadership course run by one of his close friends and this opportunity is the only way I can get there right now - unless you know otherwise.

If you've ever been keen to lend Beard Season a hand this would be a VERY prime time to do so.

P.S. It's all TAX DEDUCTABLE

Not only will this be an investment in the movement's stewardship over the coming years it could lead to some massive opportunities. Not only with Branson and Virgin but with those who attend. People who invest and grow businesses for a living. Something we most definitely need at this critical juncture.

We've come all this way with next to no fund raising...

We've built a community of over 80,000 people in 24 different countries.

Hosted events for over 35,000 people in one of the UK's finest art galleries

(with one of the most magnificent portrait photographers there it)

Annnnd generated over $10m in earned media.

PLUS... we now save one or more lives a week.

Just check out #BeardSeasonVictories on Instagram. Our primary KPI.

Now imagine what this $20,000 will do.

At Necker Island. With Sir Richard Branson and 30 other entrepreneurs.

And me. With a GARGANTUAN ambition to make the most of this opportunity for us.

When I return, I will host a dinner for everyone who supported us.

Detailing everything I learnt on the course and how you could help apply it to the cause and your own endeavours. I may even bring with me some of the people who attended as back up.

For people who donate BIG, I’ll make a personal visit to your company or a lunch/dinner date with your and your colleagues. A great way to build on your community engagement and pass along some knowledge/kite surfing skills.

Please share this with your friends and work mates. 

It would be great to reach as many people as possible. 

And remember, everything helps. 

Even if it's just mentioning it to your millionaire boss : {)

If I can't raise the cash I'm going to spur on the tally with a series of fundraising activities over the next few weeks.
Documenting them on our social channels. Things like... 

• Running a lemonade stand
• Washing people's cars (for more I'll do it in a mankini)
• Selling beard strokes
• Close up videos of my beard reading whatever you like
• Advertise your product/thing

Etc... 

If you have any ideas just holla.