Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater (centre) grew a moustache last month to support Movember, a movement which aims to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Pictured with Slater are BC Liberal staff members (from left) Andrew Leyne, Matt Pitcairn and Evan Southern. Photo submitted - Click on picture for larger image
OSOYOOS TIMES-December 9, 2009
By Laurena Weninger – Osoyoos Times
There are fewer hairy men in Osoyoos this week.
With the wrap-up of the global fundraising and awareness drive called “Movember,” several of the Osoyoos men who were letting their facial hair grow have shaved it off.
“I shaved mine late on the 30th (of November),” said Phil Johnson, pastor of the Osoyoos Baptist Church. “It was itchy… and I think it made me look old.”
Johnson joined the Movember movement to grow his moustache for the month of November, in order to raise some money to fight prostate cancer, as well as to raise awareness.
“Lots of people commented,” Johnson said, adding it was a chance to bring up the delicate topic of prostate cancer with people.
“Most of them didn’t realize prostate cancer is as deadly to men as it is.”
The group Johnson was part of, called Mosoyoos, was headed by Osoyoos’s Rob Rausch, and, according to the Movember website, raised $580.
Coun. Michael Ryan was also part of the group, and he raised about $100 – but then decided the moustache had to go.
“Women problems,” he said, explaining one woman would tell him it looked distinguished, and then another would tell him to shave it off.
Ultimately, his wife, Vera, had final say by handing him a razor, Ryan said.
Mayor Stu Wells also joined in the campaign, letting his moustache grow.
He raised approximately $100 as well, with an extra $5 thrown in by Coun. Margaret Chadsey.
“Shave it off,” she said with a laugh as she handed him the money.
These aren’t the only politicians who got in the game.
Boundary-Similkameen MLA John Slater grew a moustache and he’s still got it, though he plans to shave it soon.
He said the group he is part of has raised over $1,000 but there is more cash still coming in.
“The bottom line is, we’re trying to make sure to get everybody out to get checked,” he said.
Dr. Robert Calder, from the Osoyoos Medical Centre, set up jars in his office for donations.
Each dollar was counted as one vote in a contest to determine if he would keep his moustache past Dec. 1.
“It was $67 to $61 that I keep the moustache,” he said, surprised at the turn-around.
Last week, it looked like the ’stache had to go, but with so many votes in favour of him keeping the razor at bay, he will keep it on – for now.
“It has to be off by next November because I am doing it again,” said Calder, who has dealt personally with prostate cancer.
He raised over $500 in his campaign, as part of a Victoria-based Movember group with his son, who raised more than $1,000.
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