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Lees-McRae Athletics to Participate in ‘No Shave November” to Raise Awarness for Men’s Health

Nov. 4, 2013. Lees-McRae College’s athletics department is joining the popular craze that is “No Shave November.” This week marks the first to begin the contest and coaches along with administrators in the Bobcat athletic department are ready to take on the challenge. 

“This is another way for us to continue to grow as a team in our athletic department and support a cause many of us may face or know someone that is currently dealing with,” said Vice-President of Athletics and Club Sports Craig McPhail. “We are constantly challenging our staff to make a difference with our young people and this is our chance to be at the forefront, in hopes others will follow.”

One of the key aspects of this ritual is to raise awareness for men’s health.

Movember, as it is called, along with Noshember, started in Melbourne, Australia in 2004 where a group of 30 men organized an event and grew mustaches for 30 days in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men. Later, they became known as the Movember Foundation charity. Since that time, Movember has raised $299 million in global funds. 

According to the American Cancer Society, one in six men in their lifetime could be diagnosed with prostate cancer. The society reported, “there are 238,590 new cases of prostate cancer in a year in the United States.”

In the U.S., Movember national partners include major partners Gillette and TOMS in addition to several supporting and promotional partners. Collectively, Movember partners support the global movement by generating awareness about men’s health, promoting the campaign and creating remarkable experiences for participants. 

“We will maintain professionalism, but also help bring awareness to a great cause,” said McPhail. “I am encouraged by those who wanted to participate and am looking forward to seeing whose beard, mustache, goatee wins at the end of the month.”

Current members of the athletic department participating are McPhail, Director of Compliance Gene Renfro, Sports Information Director Whitney Noble, Women’s soccer coach Nick Whiting, Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach Skylar Warren, assistant athletic trainer Bradley Huff, men’s and women’s volleyball coach Dave Schmidlin, cross country and track and field coach Ley Fletcher, men’s soccer coach Lee Squires, women’s lacrosse coach Ray Cameron, men’s basketball coach Steve Hardin and assistant Brandon Rosser.

What are the Movember rules? Number one, shave clean Nov. 1. You must start with a clean shaved face. Second, for the entire month of November, each “Mo Bro” must grow and groom a mustache. Third rule of Movember, you can’t let your mustache join with your sideburns, that is considered a beard. 

Fourth, which goes along with the third rule, no joining the handlebars to your chin, that’s considered a goatee. And the last and most important rule in No Shave November, each man participating must conduct himself like a true gentleman.

As for No Shave November rules, they are similar, but instead you grow an entire beard and at the end of the November, you shave a unique mustache. On the No Shave November site, they say the goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.

No Shave November would like to see men and women donate the money they usually spend on shaving and grooming for a month to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.