Cancer affects so many people, in so many ways, and I'm no exception. In December, it will be just over a year since my sister Grainne died, and in that relatively short time, cancer has taken an old friend from college and a cousin, without even branching out into friends of friends.

The Irish Cancer Society works to support cancer patients across Ireland by funding free services and care in every community. I think the least I can do is try to convince you to give them money, and if takes shaving my head for this first time this century, no, millennium, then let's go.

If we beat the target, the beard w̶i̶l̶l̶ ̶g̶o̶ ̶t̶o̶o̶ get dyed an outlandish colour: pink is currently the front runner! My kids won't recognise me, but it'll be worth it.