By JOHN LAW Niagara Falls Review Updated 18 hours ago
Geoff Allen was a part-time firefighter at a Kelowna, B.C. ,ski lodge six years ago when he noticed a whole lot of Australians sporting a 'stache.
He figured they were just being "crazy Australians," but they had a purpose. Back home, the Movember movement was in full swing — the growing of moustaches every November to raise awareness for men's health, particularly prostate cancer.
When he relocated to Hamilton and joined the Niagara Falls Fire Department, he decided to bring the moustache movement with him. Hamilton and Niagara area firefighters raised $8,000 during their first campaign in 2009, nearly doubling it to $15,000 last year.
This year they were at $6,000 midway through the month, with a big finish expected. But aside from the money, Allen loves seeing his "Mo Bros" about town — dudes proudly wearing their facial hair, despite the weird stares.
This isn't the '70s. Moustaches haven't been cool since Magnum P.I. "The first year we did it, people would look at you like, 'Why is there six creepy firemen coming to my aid?' " says the Movember committee chairman for Hamilton-Niagara. "But now, it's taken off so big in Canada. You look around and everybody's got one."
Movember aims to take the embarrassment out of prostate exams by making moustaches the embarrassing part. It's designed to stir conversation — when someone asks why you're growing one, you spread the word about men's health. If it prompts just one more guy to go for a prostate exam, or just a random check up, it's worth it.
Allen used to be "one of those guys." The one who had to be dragged to a doctor. Once he joined the Movember team, he started booking regular appointments just for the peace of mind.
He also has a personal reason to get involved. A week before his wedding in August, his grandmother died of cancer. During one of their last conversations: "We vowed to her we'll do anything we can to fight (cancer)."
The hardest part of prostate exams, besides the obvious, is convincing men to go even if nothing's wrong. It's a cancer that is 90% treatable if detected early.
"Guys just don't go," says Allen. "If they don't feel any pain, they think everything's fine."
All money raised goes towards Prostate Cancer Canada. Last year saw nearly 119,000 people across Canada raise $22.3 million for prostate cancer research, education and support initiatives.
During their lifetime, one in seven Canadian men will develop prostate cancer.
Allen's wife, Shannon, lost her mother to cancer when she was 16, and has learned to tolerate the annual moustache. His one-year-old daughter … not so much. "She's got sensitive skin and it gives her a bit of a rash."
Though most Mo Bros shave the 'stache on Dec. 1, Allen will be keeping his until at least Dec. 2 when Movember Canada hosts a thank you party to anyone who raised more than $100. It takes place at Koolhaus in Toronto.
Local firemen will have their own send-off party Nov. 29 at the Grand Central on Queen St., starting at 8 p.m. The public is invited.
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