Organisers of the 2014 Heart Stopper Challenge are delighted to report more than $20,000 has already been raised ahead of the annual event tomorrow.

Team Brendon's Baby Daddies: Wayne Evans, Charles Baxter, Chris van de Molen, Andy McIvor and Brendon Weatherley. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

The $20,084 record has surpassed previous years' funding by more than $11,000, with donations expected to continue as the challenge takes place.

'It's just blown us away,” says organiser Rachael Parkes, who was initially hoping to make $10,000.

'It's jumped up quite far in the last three days. It was sort of like ‘Oh wow, we're going to make $15,000 – then the next time we looked it's at $18,000.

'There was even a couple who donated $1000 yesterday.”

Tomorrow 37 teams will take turns plunging into a tub of ice-cold water for five minutes from 10am at Coronation Park in Mount Maunganui.

Among them is More FM breakfast host Brendon Weatherley and his team of ‘Baby Daddies'.

The father-of-three is teaming up with five other fathers, dressing as pregnant ladies for the occasion.

'We're called Brendon's Baby Daddies. We're also making it fun for the @Heart children by letting them do our make-up. We're going to be beautiful.”

Brendon, who has three children aged seven, four and two, says being a father makes the cause much more personal for the team.

'I think, being a father, you have this thing that grabs you when you see these kids who are so sick. It hurts to see a little kid going through that so as a father you want to protect them, even if it's not your child. 'We all felt there was a need to support these kids, because they've been through a hell of a lot. What we'll be doing, it's pretty scary for some people, but these kids go through this on a regular basis just to undergo their heart procedures, so it's the least we can do; that we're doing it for just five minutes.”

Rachel is also taking part for the first time tomorrow.

'I'm a little bit nervous. I think I'll be having my fist in my mouth trying not to curse.”

She says 60 per cent of the total money raised will go to Bay of Plenty @Heart, with the national @Heart charity receiving the other 40 per cent.

Further local funding will be raised through a sausage sizzle, face painting and Bedazzled Balloons, on offer for a gold coin donation at the event.

The 2014 Heart Stopper Challenge begins 10am, Saturday, March 22 at Coronation Park, Mount Maunganui.