Man raises Sh4 million for charity after giving up sex for a year

Melbourne, Australia: Pete Lynagh agreed to the nookie ban as a bet, but found it completely changed his outlook on life.

A self-confessed 'player' who gave up sex for a year raised £27,000 for charity - says he's now a changed man.

Pete Lynagh  accepted a $2,000 bet from Aussie pal Marty Gebert not to have any sex for 12 months as part of a New Year’s resolution.

The 33-year-old took on the no nookie ban for 2013 to raise money for a Cambodian charity that helps save young girls used in sex slavery.

Despite a few close shaves Pete - originally from Armoy, Co Antrim but now living in Melbourne, Australia - made it to the finish line with his purity intact.

Six months later and he's a changed man, sticking to one woman, raising money for other charity projects and blogging about making the most of life.

Pete told the Irish Mirror: “It started as a joke, with my mate Marty coming up with it. But it quickly became much bigger than me.”

He credits his year in a sexless wilderness for making him a better person and finding a purpose to his life to help others.

Speaking from his Melbourne home, he said “shallow” Pete is now in the past.

Instead of the lady who ended his sex ban being just another notch on his bedpost Pete’s now a changed man. He added: “It wasn’t planned and I certainly wasn’t expecting it.

“My mates and I went up to Byron Bay to celebrate my year and I met a friend who had been in contact with.

“One thing lead to another and it was very romantic. We went out to dinner and there was a lot of chemistry. We spent time together over the two days."

But instead of the casual one-night stand Pete says a connection with a woman is his top priority and sex is now just a “bonus”.

He said: “I was a player before. I enjoyed playing the field and my mates and I were ego manics, looking for the latest notch in the bedroom. We lived in a bachelor pad.

“But it wasn’t sitting well with me. So you could say I was ready for the challenge.”

As he embarked on leaving his Casanova ways behind him Pete admits there was temptation along the way. Passions soon rose to the occasion with then girlfriend Claire early last year.

He revealed: “I nearly broke it. She had to stop me as I was like a man possessed. I was sober and at that point I didn’t give a **** about the charity. Physiology and biology took over.

“It was nearly game over but Claire stopped me she told me ‘You’ll regret it tomorrow’. We went together just for two months. After that a had a couple of kisses but I knew I couldn’t have a girl. The temptation would be too great.”

Pete is glad he stuck to his promise. Posting videos and keeping a blog soon brought his challenge to a supportive Facebook audience who have donated £27,000 for his charity Free to Shine.

The money has been used to set up an office and employ staff, allowing the charity to double the number of girls it has saved from the sex slave trade from 70 to almost 140.

His emotional trip to Cambodia in September to see first hand how the funds were changing lives.

“I had prepared myself for the worst but although there were horrific stories they were the happiest people I had ever met.

“It was great meeting the kids and seeing how the money was use to help them get educated.”