What makes a moustache cool? Is it the style, the look, or that it is grown for a good cause?
November signals the coming of the winter months, when you want to bundle up tight and keep warm by the fire. It also brings with it the tradition of growing your moustache for the Movember campaign.
Movember (Moustache + November, get it?) is an annual campaign that aims to raise awareness of men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer and support suicide prevention. Folks grow their moustaches for the whole month to help raise funds for the cause and to show their support.
Many BC Transit staff members are Movember ‘stachers, some having been involved for years, while for others it will be the first time they will be supporting the cause.
Chelsea Hermus from Fleet Management has been a Mo Sista for the past seven years. She got involved in the campaign because of her love for ‘staches and to help raise awareness for men’s health. As the BC Transit Movember Team Captain, she organizes the event for staff looking to get involved in the campaign. She even has advice for those who think a moustache is just not as cool as everyone thinks they are.
“Whether you can grow a Mo’ or not, the easiest way to participate is to join our BC Transit team online,” said Hermus. “It’s free and it’s a handy tool to help spread awareness of our campaign. Join and start some conversations about men’s health. Together, we can stop men from dying too young.”
Hermus, along with many other departments, helps to ensure our double-decker buses look dapper when out on the street with moustaches of their own. You can see the double-deckers with moustaches around Victoria throughout the month.
For Bronson Bullivant from Planning, this will be his second year supporting the campaign at BC Transit. Bullivant, who has been part the campaign for the last seven years, has a personal connection to why he chooses to grow a rad ‘stache for Movember.
“My father has had prostate cancer in the past and it has continued in different forms since,” said Bullivant. “I am doing it for him.”
His secret to growing a sweet ‘stache? ‘Don’t try too hard.’ Bullivant hopes to raise $1,000 for the campaign this year.
Newcomers are encouraged to join the BC Transit Movember Team and help raise awareness for these important issues.
Nicholas Graves from Marketing will be dusting off his old shaver to make the clean start to Movember for the first time ever. He wants to show solidarity with his fellow coworkers who are taking part in the campaign and to support a worthy cause.
“Men’s health, both physical and mental, is easy to overlook,” said Graves. “Contributing even a small amount can build up to a solid investment to bring awareness to these issues.”
He also has a way to encourage others to join the campaign.
“Post selfies on social media to show how amazing you look,” said Graves. “You’ll make your friends so jealous that they will be compelled to take part.”
Want to join a Movember team? Visit https://ca.movember.com for more information on the campaign.
