Moustache-growing month gathers mo-mentum
IT'S a hairy time at Nottingham Moderns Rugby Football Club.
Players have been cultivating moustaches since the beginning of the month to mark Movember – a worldwide event to raise awareness of prostate cancer.
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Most dashing: Members of Nottingham Moderns Rugby Football Club are growing moustaches in aid of a prostate cancer charity.
Around 17 men signed up for the challenge, including Rob Hirsch, 26, of West Bridgford, who said: "There are a couple of lads who have got some very impressive efforts – one has a lovely handlebar moustache.
"Mine is coming along slowly, I'm getting the brunt of the abuse."
The men hope to raise £1,000 for the Prostate Cancer Charity which researches, campaigns and supports men with the disease.
Around 35,000 men in the UK are diagnosed each year, making it the most common cancer in men.
Companies and individuals across Notts are joining in the annual fundraiser.
Optician Andy Clark didn't hesitate to grow a moustache as he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in February 2009.
Andy, who was 49 at the time, said: "It is essential that you admit to yourself that something is wrong and then find the nerve to talk to the doctor about it. One chap I met said that although he had symptoms he couldn't go because 'you have to show the doctor your bits'.
Andy, of Cropwell Bishop, said: "Emotionally, the worst time was when I knew that I had cancer but didn't know if it could be treated easily. Mr Harris, the surgeon, and his specialist nurse Ellie Robinson were fantastic and did a lot to calm my fears."
Andy had surgery to remove his prostate gland at the City Hospital and was well enough to attend his daughter's 16th birthday party six days later.
He now has a blood test every six months to make sure he remains clear.
"I've been very, very lucky and this is why I am so keen to raise awareness and get men to talk to their doctors early."
Last year Andy and his work colleagues raised £2,000 for Movember.
"Because we were speaking at several conferences and had to apologise for our fuzzy top lips to our audiences we managed to tell the story to hundreds of people, some of whom told us that they then went to the doctors for a check – one of whom was subsequently diagnosed with prostate cancer.
"[My moustache] has inspired people to sing Village People songs. I don't think it's a good look for me – but it's a lot of fun."
Andy's wife Jill doesn't mind his mussie but he reckons she will be handing him a razor on December 1.
Four workers at E.on in Nottingham are also growing moustaches – the idea of consumer credit operations team manager Charlotte Moor.
Charlotte, who has necklaces, tops and bags with moustaches on, said: "The ladies on my team are doing a sponsored day of walking around with moustaches drawn on their faces."
Tim Smith, 29, the founder of Shop Nottingham and Fourmost Films, is also busy growing a 'tache.
The former actor, who has starred in Sky One's Dream Team, Hollyoaks and Teachers, said: "I want to raise awareness about men's health and prostate cancer which kills one man every hour in the UK."
Movember was thought up by four Australian friends in a bar in Melbourne in 2003. The idea caught on and has become a global phenomenon across Oz, New Zealand, America and the UK.
To support the fundraisers visit www.movember.com and click on donate.
6 Comments
by WELL DONE MOVEMBER BROTHERS!, NOTTINGHAM
Friday, November 26 2010, 8:08PM
“I've grown my for two weeks, big fat ginger bush lol turning off all the ladies but it's for a worthy cause and thats the important thing.”
by karl., nott'm
Friday, November 26 2010, 6:39PM
“@daproff. What a stupid, imbocilic thing to say. I'm proud to say I'm growing my mo'! :) I only hope that no-one takes your comments as "fact". Because like Sean says, all you've done is think your clever by "Googling" some rubbish and then posting it on here as fact. Sorry to say it again but I only hope no man takes your comment seriously, as you may cost them their lives and it would be on your head and yours alone. What a pathetic excuse for a human being you are!”
by someone, somewhere
Friday, November 26 2010, 6:31PM
“It's nice to see that men all over the place are finally starting to be more open about this disease and are willing to discuss it with friends and others. Regardless of any "facts" about the treatment of it or any statistics anyone cares to mention, the fact that it's now in the public conciousness and gains mo'mentum (couldn't resist!) with every year it a great thing.
Well done to all my colleagues currently growing mo's and to the rest of the movember growers. I'm almost jealous that as a woman I can't grow one!”
by Sean, Nottingham
Friday, November 26 2010, 5:22PM
“So on that basis, we should just MAN UP and accept we have cancer then and not bother with trying to rid ourselves of it ?
Pretty irresponsible post imo.
Personally, knowing of someone who has lost their battle with cancer this year and another who is currently going through chemo for testicular cancer, I think your "google facts" don't help promote the fact that we should all support fighting this disease.”
by daprrof, Canada
Friday, November 26 2010, 3:33PM
“Some mo'info to add to this subject..
"Only about one in 10 prostate cancers detected by screening actually poses a threat to a man's life, according to a new analysis conducted by researchers from the University if Cambridge".
"A common prostate cancer treatment may significantly increase men's risk of heart problems, according to a study conducted by researchers from King's College London and presented at a joint meeting of the European Cancer Organization and the European Society for Medical Oncology in Berlin".
"If none of the men diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer were ever treated, 97 percent of them would still survive the disease, according to a study conducted by Swedish researchers and published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute".
"As many as 50 percent of all prostate cancer diagnoses may be cases of over-diagnosis, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal".
Funny how these cancer fear marketers never tell the whole story..
Nobody get's cured from junk science but many profit from selling fear..
Giving to the cancer society only tells me that you support eugenics, genetically-altered foods, transgenic animals, human cloning, dangerous psychiatric drugs, deadly vaccines and pesticides.
What a noble cause!!”
by Sean, Nottingham
Friday, November 26 2010, 12:54PM
“Anyway, good to see a few fellow Movember brothers, mine is coming along slowly but it is all for a good cause.
The key message for all of us blokes, is that if you think something is wrong, MAN UP and see your GP, they see tons of gentleman parts each week, one more isn't going to make any difference to them, but it can for you and your family.”