Movember charity team fundraises for prostate cancer with help from mustaches
By Tim Fenster news editor
The mustaches that sprout up after Halloween do more than temporarily change the faces of some typically clean-shaven men. Movember, a world-wide charity movement driven by the concept of growing a mustache during the month of November, raised more than $7.5 million in 2010 for men's health groups, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
College at Brockport students got involved by starting the Brockport Golden Eagles, a Movember team that has raised $1,829 as of press time Monday, Nov. 28.
"I think everyone did a good job sending the message to relatives and friends," said senior Adam Shoff, who is the team captain. "Anything we can do to raise money and awareness toward cancer is important to a lot of people."
The 28-member team is mainly comprised of Brockport men's hockey players. Every member of this sports team is growing facial hair and fundraising for the cause, Shoff said.
For senior goaltender Oliver Wren, who has raised $355 as of Monday, Nov. 28 — the most of anyone on the team — participation is part of hockey tradition.
"Lots of NHL franchises and teams have joined the cause for fighting against prostate cancer, so we felt like we could do our part," Wren said. "Lots of families have been affected by cancer [so] it was a no-brainer to do what we could to support the charity."
The team set an initial goal of $2,000. It remains to be seen if the team can pull together the less than $200 remaining between press time Monday, Nov. 28 and the fundraising deadline Thursday, Dec. 1.
"We felt that ($2,000) was a reasonable goal we could shoot for," Shoff said. "A lot of guys got money coming in, [so] I feel pretty optimistic about reaching our goal."
Donations have surged in recent weeks from a $200 total about midway through November, Shoff said.
For Wren, as well as many other Movember participants, the fight against cancer is a personal one.
"My grandfather passed away from cancer and my parents and grandmother both contributed [to Movember]," Wren said. "I thank my family and also my friends from home and from Brockport. A lot of guys are working hard to raise money."
The Wren family has donated hundreds to the cause, according to www.movember.com.
The Brockport men's hockey team is also working with Saves for a Cure, a Rochester-based nonprofit organization that helps patients with cancer.
When men's hockey takes on Morrisville Saturday, Dec. 3, they will be wearing specially designed Saves for a Cure jerseys that will be auctioned off to fundraise for the organization.
Some Movember participants may appreciate the shave that will precede this game.
However, one men's hockey player — the loser of an end-of-Movember shoot-out contest — will be stuck with the mustache until students leave for winter break, Shoff said.
Shoff hopes the Movember charity efforts will continue after the mustaches are trimmed.
"Hopefully it (Movember fundraising) will carry on (at Brockport) and get bigger as the years go by," he said.
To donate to Brockport's Movember team, go to www.movember.com and search for the Brockport Golden Eagles.
By Tim Fenster news editor
The mustaches that sprout up after Halloween do more than temporarily change the faces of some typically clean-shaven men. Movember, a world-wide charity movement driven by the concept of growing a mustache during the month of November, raised more than $7.5 million in 2010 for men's health groups, such as the Prostate Cancer Foundation, LIVESTRONG and the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
College at Brockport students got involved by starting the Brockport Golden Eagles, a Movember team that has raised $1,829 as of press time Monday, Nov. 28.
"I think everyone did a good job sending the message to relatives and friends," said senior Adam Shoff, who is the team captain. "Anything we can do to raise money and awareness toward cancer is important to a lot of people."
The 28-member team is mainly comprised of Brockport men's hockey players. Every member of this sports team is growing facial hair and fundraising for the cause, Shoff said.
For senior goaltender Oliver Wren, who has raised $355 as of Monday, Nov. 28 — the most of anyone on the team — participation is part of hockey tradition.
"Lots of NHL franchises and teams have joined the cause for fighting against prostate cancer, so we felt like we could do our part," Wren said. "Lots of families have been affected by cancer [so] it was a no-brainer to do what we could to support the charity."
The team set an initial goal of $2,000. It remains to be seen if the team can pull together the less than $200 remaining between press time Monday, Nov. 28 and the fundraising deadline Thursday, Dec. 1.
"We felt that ($2,000) was a reasonable goal we could shoot for," Shoff said. "A lot of guys got money coming in, [so] I feel pretty optimistic about reaching our goal."
Donations have surged in recent weeks from a $200 total about midway through November, Shoff said.
For Wren, as well as many other Movember participants, the fight against cancer is a personal one.
"My grandfather passed away from cancer and my parents and grandmother both contributed [to Movember]," Wren said. "I thank my family and also my friends from home and from Brockport. A lot of guys are working hard to raise money."
The Wren family has donated hundreds to the cause, according to www.movember.com.
The Brockport men's hockey team is also working with Saves for a Cure, a Rochester-based nonprofit organization that helps patients with cancer.
When men's hockey takes on Morrisville Saturday, Dec. 3, they will be wearing specially designed Saves for a Cure jerseys that will be auctioned off to fundraise for the organization.
Some Movember participants may appreciate the shave that will precede this game.
However, one men's hockey player — the loser of an end-of-Movember shoot-out contest — will be stuck with the mustache until students leave for winter break, Shoff said.
Shoff hopes the Movember charity efforts will continue after the mustaches are trimmed.
"Hopefully it (Movember fundraising) will carry on (at Brockport) and get bigger as the years go by," he said.
To donate to Brockport's Movember team, go to www.movember.com and search for the Brockport Golden Eagles.
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