It was a hell of a way to spend your birthday.
Shave your head for charity? Check.
Rappel down an 18-metre building for the same charity? Check.
And, in doing so, raise more than $60,000 for said charity - the Canberra Hospital Foundation? Check, check, check.
Canberra's cafe king Omar Muscat won't forget his 49th birthday in a hurry. (Oh, sorry. We meant 26th birthday.)
It was Can Give Day for the Canberra Hospital Foundation on Thursday and both Omar and his teammate - Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron - proved they really can give.
The pair - who have a firm bromance - teamed up to provide some fundraising firepower to Can Give Day.
Mr Muscat raised more than $60,000 with his head shave and daredevil rappelling down the orange-tiled Building No. 8 on Hospital Road.
Mr Byron raised more than $40,000 for Can Give Day - and conquered his fear of heights by abseiling down the building.
More than $280,000 and counting has been raised across the board, which will go to the foundation to fund everything from research to equipment to toys to comforting spaces across Canberra's public hospitals. Donations can still be made for another two weeks.
Mr Muscat and Mr Byron together raised more than $100,000 of the total amount.
Mr Muscat said it had been a "big rush" rappelling down the building face-forward, leaning right over the edge of the roof to get started, saying it was "a nice view".
"The feeling you get when you're looking down, well, for me personally, it's just incredible. You've got to trust the process, trust the rope," he said.
A dad of two and owner of Doubleshot Deakin, Urban Pantry and Locale Pizzeria, Mr Muscat said he wanted to give back and help the hospital foundation.
"Having young children and being in hospital a couple of times when they were younger, you realise how vulnerable as parents we become and what they do [at the hospital], in my experience, has been second to none," he said.
"It's about giving back."
Mr Byron was just happy to be on firm ground again.
But, he too, was glad to help raise money for the foundation.
"We're the lucky ones because we're on this side of the hospital - we're outside. The ones inside they need our help, love and care," Mr Byron said.
"Raising money is helping our doctors and nurses look after our loved ones."
Mr Muscat's friend, Marco Imbriano, of Ora Hair Woden did the honours, shaving his hair. Mr Muscat's son Levi, 10, also had a go. Watching on was his wife Sabrina, other son Cruz, six, and parents Margaret and Tony.
"He looks cute," Mrs Muscat said of her son's new look.
Mr Byron's mum Ginette Snow also watched on proudly as he abseiled down the building.
Canberra Hospital Foundation chair Susan Proctor also confirmed Mr Muscat had become the biggest individual fundraiser for Can Give Day, praising him and Mr Byron.
"We're so grateful, we're so grateful to the team and we're grateful for your courage," she said.
- Donations to Can Give Day can be made here.
