Kamloops has moustaches abound basically year-round, so how does one stand out during the month of Movember?
Put that moustache somewhere else on your head.
That's what some of the fellas behind Give Cancer the Finger stopped into the Continental Barber Shop to do this afternoon (Nov. 9).
"It's just a way of making more people ask questions," says Steve Passmore, a former NHLer and one of the organizers. "Everyone can grow a moustache but not everyone puts in the commitment to do it on the back of their head. And the girls here are nice enough to upkeep it so it looks awesome. It's a great conversation starter."
This Movember campaign is a joint effort between tons of community organizations but spearheaded by Sun Life Financial and the Continental Barber Shop. This year, they're focusing not only on prostate cancer — the initial motivation behind Movember — but also mental health initiatives.
"One of the most important things for us is to keep the money local," says Derek Strokon, a financial centre manager with Sun Life.
"That's why the partnership with the City of Kamloops has been awesome. Last year, we promoted the TrueNTH Lifestyle Management program, which was about men with prostate cancer who survive and thrive so they can lead healthier lives. This year, we're helping the City of Kamloops with donations that are going forward to creating online resources for men with cancer and mental illnesses to help better their lives. We all live with similar challenges and if we can all band together to help each other out, that's what works out."
Passmore says he's been taking part in the national Movember campaign since it started way back when, but this is the third year of their locally focused campaign. A few years ago he saw what Jennifer Edgecombe was doing to help survivors in the community and that led to their partnership with the city.
"We want to make sure the money stays here because it helps your neighbour, people you actually know that are affected not by just prostate cancer but the overall men's health initiative," he says.
Most of the funds are raised at the wrap-up celebration event at the end of the month, but there are other opportunities for people to contribute throughout November, moustache or not.
The big wrap-up event at the Shark Club is Nov. 29. Tickets are $20, provide entrants with a burger and a beer and can be purchased at Shark Club, Sun Life Financial or Continental Barbers, at 319 Victoria St.
Passmore says they have no fundraising goal this year, but they have tons of community support, so it should be a huge event.
And even if you don't have DNA for a big duster, these guys have shown there's plenty of ways to show support.
"Some men are blessed with the ability to grow facial hair and some men don't have that," says Strokon. "I'm on the latter side of that scale and I thought, if I'm going to be able to show it off I'd better do it in a way that I can. I grow a lot of hair on the back of my head, not so much on my face."
