Handlebars, chevrons and horseshoes: Movember is here!
Barbers from Emporium were in the lobby of the John Molson (MB) Building yesterday to help get Movember off to a clean start. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. any student willing to donate $5 was privy to a professional pre-growth shave down, complete with a hot towel.
The Movember mission — to grow a moustache for the month of November — raises money for men’s health issues.
The shaving event was organized by JMoSB, the Movember subset of CASA Cares, the charity wing of the Commerce and Administration Student Association at the John Molson School of Business.
It’s the first in a series of fundraising events that will take place on campus throughout the month. All the money from the events will be donated to the Movember Foundation, which has been in operation since 2003. To date, the international charity has raised $677 million in the fight against diseases like prostate and testicular cancer.
Anyone who wants to join the cause can do so either by joining an existing group at the university or signing up as an individual fundraiser, says Catherine Doyle, vice-president of CASA Cares' Movember campaign.
She explains that JMoSB is participating in the Big Moustache on Campus Challenge. “We compete against other groups at Université du Québec à Montréal, McGill and other universities across Canada to see who can raise the most money for the foundation.”
Doyle says this year’s goal is to surpass last year’s JMoSB total of $7,000. She hopes students will bolster their fundraising efforts by joining the team.
Why Movember is growing on students
Every year, Concordians get shaved, or otherwise get involved in Movember for any number of personal, charitable or aesthetic reasons.
“My grandpa died from prostate cancer. It's genetically in my family and so that's one reason,” says Luka Radoš, economics and management student, as he enjoys a shave. “The other one is that I love ’staches.”
For Manuel De Moya, who studies administration, taking part in Movember has become a personal tradition. “I've done it for the last couple of years, and I've always liked it,” he says. “I have a lot of beard right now, so I could use a shave. And why not donate while I'm at it?”
Yasmine Ait Bihi, the associate vice-president of fashion sponsorship for CASA Cares, says she helps out because it builds a sense of community. “I don’t want to just go to class then go home and study … I want to help others. So one of CASA Cares’ events is Movember, and it’s really all about doing something extra. That's what I want from my university experience.”
Find out more about how you can join Movember's fundraising efforts.