Movember: Hanley YMCA holds free shave ahead of month-long prostate cancer campaign
MEN across the region will today begin growing moustaches to back a national campaign to raise awareness about prostate cancer.
Participants enjoyed a free shave at Hanley’s YMCA yesterday in preparation for the month-long Movember initiative which invites those taking part to grow some facial hair from scratch.
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YMCA chief executive Danny Flynn with barber Lee Jewass.
And Stoke City’s stars will once again back the appeal with a barber set to visit the club’s Clayton Wood training facility this afternoon to shave the footballers for the final time.
Last year the campaign raised more than £79 million as participants across the country sculpted a variety of moustaches in aid of men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
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Such was the city’s efforts in the 2011 appeal, organisers behind the Movember campaign say the area ‘raised the bar’ in terms of backing the campaign.
YMCA North Staffordshire’s facility in Harding Road has been named as the local Movember headquarters
Chief executive Danny Flynn, who is taking part in the scheme, said: “This is a community resource for the whole of the city and it is important for organisations and charities to help out.
“A lot of people in the area have experienced cancer and this is a fun way of raising some money and awareness.”
Angela Smith, vice chairman of the Stoke City Supporters’ Council, is also helping spearhead the area’s involvement.
The former world champion squash player, who helps run the YMCA-based Knot FM, said: “It is a really easy thing for blokes to take part in and is simple to do.”
Anyone taking part must be clean shaven today in preparation for the initiative.
Representatives from the NHS, Staffordshire Fire Service and Sainsbury’s were among those joining YMCA workers in having their stubble removed.
Pete Hall, risk reduction officer for the fire service, who is based at Newcastle station, said: “I took part last year and will try and grow a handlebar moustache this time around.
“For men something like prostate cancer is a taboo subject but something like this goes a good way to raise awareness.”
Mark Blackshaw, aged 27, of May Bank, a team leader at Newcastle Sainsbury’s, who raised £400 last year, said: “I was pleased with the amount I raised but would like to get to £500 this time around.”
Barber Lee Jewess was shaving the Stoke City stars after spending last year helping a host of the Premier League footballers maintain their moustaches for the cause.
The 28-year-old, of Milton, said: “I went to Stoke City and there was some good competition about who could grow the best moustache.”
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