The Mo Bros are at it again. November, or Movember for some, is a time to raise awareness for men’s health.
The program was started to raise funds and bring discussion of prostate cancer in a fun way; during the month of November men grow moustaches and raise funds towards a cure. Now the program has included male mental health and testicular cancer in its fundraising goals.
“Knowledge is power. Prevention is everything. Early detection is key,” is the slogan on the www.ca.movember.com website resources page and one group of men at the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury are fundraising again.
Last year team CCMHBI, headed by pharmacists Brad Steeves and Chad Laughy, raised $15,050 for the campaign and they have brought together a group of 45 men and one woman to help out.
The initiative started with Steeves, whose father developed prostate cancer. Of his dad’s six brothers, four have had prostate cancer and two died as a result of the disease. Despite a late start this year, the team has two fundraisers who have shed their long-worn ‘staches. One man, after 46 years with his moustache, shaved his off to fundraise and another raised $800 to shave off his moustache of 27 years. The latter made the decision and raised that much in 24 hours.
“They create as much, if not more awareness,” said Steeves.
The team has already raised more than $3,000 and Steeves feels once they start campaigning they hope to beat their goal. “It’s going to start picking up here.”
The support from their co-workers alone has been a positive outcome. Some may not feel overly confident in raising money, but growing their moustaches helps bring about discussion over why.
To see the team and Mo Bros and Mo Sistah who are raising funds check out: http://moteam.co/ccmhbi.