For the past seven years Powell River Fire Rescue firefighters have been growing moustaches for charity during the month of November. And for those who cannot grow a lip caterpillar, no problem, they just paint one on.
It’s all part of the international movement known as Movember, which has raised more than $650 million since it started in 2003. This year, local firefighters are joined by Catalyst Paper Corporation’s emergency response team and have set up an online Movember account as Powell River and Area Emergency Services. The group is calling out to others in the community to join them in raising funds for prostate cancer prevention and mental wellness/suicide prevention.
“I would like to challenge other emergency services like the Powell River RCMP and BC Ambulance Service to jump on board and see what they can do,” says auxiliary firefighter and local Movember team leader Darryl Jackson.
Those interested in donating to the firefighters’ Movember campaign can do so for the group as a whole at moteam.co/powell-river-and-area-emergency-services, or to the individual firefighters listed on the page.
Jackson says working with Movember Canada and the organization as a whole has been a very positive experience for the local firefighters.
“Movember takes the time to get to know everyone who is fundraising for them, including small groups like us, with 20 to 30 people raising a few thousand dollars,” says Jackson. “We’re really just a drop in the bucket, and one year a Movember founder from Australia sent us a personal email thanking us for our efforts. Every year they send us emails, thank-you cards and plaques.”
Aside from donating online, Jackson and his team have also put together a Movember 2017 calendar, available for $10 at the Peak office as of Monday, November 7. In addition, Blue Steel Imaging will have shirts and hoodies for sale throughout the month and a fundraising burger and beer night will take place November 26 at TC’s Pub, including a moustache shave-off.
“The local response has always been huge to the campaign,” says Jackson, “and I’m always surprised every year by how much people get into the Movember movement.”
Movember with Powell River and Area Emergency Services
When: Throughout November
Where: moteam.co/powell-river-and-area-emergency-services
Price: Donations
Info: 604.223.0771
