November means another Movember for Oak Bay firefighters. About 20 firefighters and management staff at the Oak Bay Fire Department are allowing fuzz to form on their upper lips in the name of prostate cancer research and awareness.
“Last year we raised over $3,500 and are going to do our best to get near that this year, but we need help from the community,” said firefighter Kyle Beaumont.
Beaumont organized this year’s Movember team at the fire department, including adding his team to a group called the Great Canadian Fire Department Challenge on the Movember website. “This group is made up of roughly 1,600-plus Canadian firefighters and as of right now has over $100,000 raised for the Movember campaign.”
The firefighters have also set up a rule within the department for those who aren’t joining in the hair-raising scheme.
“If you decide not to grow a mo, you are deemed a No Mo Bro and owe the team $100 for the privilege of keeping your upper lip bare,” he said.
Prostate cancer is the No. 1 form of cancer that affects men; one in seven will be affected by it. The Movember campaign encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness and funding for education and research.
To make a secure online donation and receive a tax receipt via email, go to ca.movember.com and search Oak Bay Firefighters to donate to the team. Cheques made out to Movember Canada can be dropped off at the Oak Bay Fire Hall, 1703 Monterey Ave.
“As firefighters we are already statistically at a higher risk for developing cancer, so firefighters across the nation are coming together to raise money for prostate cancer research and awareness,” Beaumont said.
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