Grow-vember raises funds and awareness

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Posted: October 31, 2016

There is something hairy about November that will soon be cropping up on the faces of men across the region.

The Canadian Cancer Society is challenging men in the Southern Interior to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, in particular prostate and colorectal cancer, by taking part in Grow-vember.

The annual health campaign focuses on men’s cancers that occur “below the belt,” according to Jenn Smith of the Canadian Cancer Society.

Participants start clean-shaven and then let their moustaches grow throughout the entire month of November, Men’s Health and Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. The hair-raising campaign has men tracking not only their personal hair growth but funds raised for their efforts.

“The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, and those spotted touting one are showing their commitment to the cause,” Smith explained. “Much like running or walking for charity, the men of Grow-vember commit to growing a moustache for 31 days and set their own fundraising goals individually or as a team.”

It’s simple to register. Participants can visit www.cancerevents.ca to access the Southern Interior Grow-vember Challenge. The online fundraising page can be distributed through social networks of friends, families, and co-workers. This allows anyone to make a contribution toward men’s health designated cancer research projects via donation through credit card on the secure site.

“We know that men generally don’t like to talk about their health and that’s why it’s even more important to highlight this campaign,” added Smith. “The fact remains that prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Canadian men.”

In 2016, it’s estimated that approximately 21,600 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and about 4,000 will die from the disease, according to the society’s newly released 2016 cancer statistics.

For further information, please call Jenn Smith at 250-426-8916 or email her at [email protected]. Check out the East Kootenay Boundary Facebook page to stay connected to the local Society office.

Why join the hair-growing movement?    Statistics for B.C. make that very clear.

In 2016: An estimated 3,300 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer; an estimated 1,800 men will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer.

In 2016: An estimated 560 men will die of prostate cancer; an estimated 670 men will die of colorectal cancer.

Thanks to generous donations, research and improved treatments over the years, the death rates for both cancers have been declining (Prostate by 3.1% per year between 2003 -2012 and colorectal by 2.3% per year between 2004 -2012).