Grow A Beard.
Registration: May 2026
Start growing: June 1st
Stop growing: August 31st
Shave it: anytime in September
Fundraising ends: 30th September
11 Years
For over a decade, MANY incredible beards have been grown (and shaved!) in support of bereaved dads and their families impacted by pregnancy and infant loss, whilst raising funds for Bears of Hope.
392 Dads
392 dads across Australia joined the campaign not only to grow their beards and fundraise but to create a community and support for other dads.
1451 beard growers
So far 1451 beard growers have signed up to be part of the bearded movement. Turning the simple act of beard growing into a moment of awareness and support.
1.18M
Raised
Every day in Australia, 1 in 4 pregnancies end in early loss, 6 babies are stillborn, and 3 babies die before their first birthday, a miscarriage occurs every 5 minutes. Through the annual Beards of Hope campaign has so far raised over 1.18 million dollars to support families experiencing unimaginable loss.
182 teams
Made up of mates, work colleagues,and sporting clubs, these 182 teams have come together to take part and turn their beards into what we call the ‘Bearded Brethren’. Together they have raised vital funds for bears of hope.
John. S
"I wanted to continue to raise awareness that dads grieve too."
Daniel. T
“We have been touched by the loss of a colleague’s, child.”
Anon
"After not shaving since our last beards campaign, it got a lot of friends, family & customers asking why and the reasoning behind shaving. Pregnancy loss is still a taboo subject to many, we like to spread the awareness that our babies are still our babies even though they are not with us."
Russell R
"I did this for the first time last year following the passing of my niece and the support I received from everyone who I got to share my story with was amazing. This is a issue that impacts so many but it very rarely spoken about."
John D
"After 5 years of doctors visits and up and downs, my wife and I fell pregnant with twin boys. Sadly on 22nd January 2021, 9 weeks early, we delivered our darling Freddie and our angel Jack. We were given a Bears of Hope package with beautiful items to honour the memory of our little boy Jack. I grew my beardin 2021 to raise funds to allow this beautiful charity to continue its work, ensuring that no parents who have lost their baby go home empty handed. Bears of Hope have supported myseld and my family in such a difficult time and have allowed me to realise that fathers suffer too and that we don't have to suffer in silence. It's okay to not be okay."
Aisea. L
"It's (Beards of Hope) about building communities of support and building awareness."
Anon
"The conversations around infant loss and those who have been impacted but I never knew about given people often do not speak openly about infant loss, particularly miscarriage. Not having to shave for a couple of months, was an added bonus!"
matt. B
"For the third year I will be participating in the BearDs of Hope campaign. I first took part in 2022 when my wife and I moved to Australia expecting a little boy named Luke. However, Luke was born prematurely very soon after we arrived, too small to survive. It is because of Luke that I run, proudly wearing my Bears of Hope singlet with Luke’s name on my back. I run with him in spirit as I never got the chance to run with him in person. On the last day of this campaign, 31 Aug, I will be taking on my third Sydney marathon in a row, looking to break the 3h mark."
Brett P
"In February 2019 my partner Jess and I welcomed to the world our beautiful identical twins, Phoenix and Penelope. They were born at 26 weeks gestation, Phoenix was 800 grams and Penelope was 400 grams, unfortunately on day 2 we made the impossible decision to turn Penelope's life support off. We had an amazing but brief time with her, read her stories and held her till the very end, she took her last little breaths in my arms. My whole world crumbled around me, I couldn't and did not cope with the grief, I shut down and tried to be strong for the rest of my family. This is my story, and I feel like this is my way of helping others by breaking the silence."
