Kevin Rice meeting the cut-throat razor of Fran O’Reilly. DP41
THE whisker-growing charity fundraising initiative Movember has come and gone and and with it no small amount of facial hair sported by men across the county.
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches around the world. With their ‘Mo’s’ men raise vital funds and awareness for prostate and testicular cancer and mental health.
This year many locals gave the campaign their support and sported their best Tom Selleck, Sammy Wilson, or closer to home Alex Baird impressions.
The results, as you can imagine were mixed, with some embracing the month of growth and others counting down the days until their torture was at an end.
Jamie Johnston, a teacher at Enniskillen Integrated Primary School is a Movember veteran, having also participated last year. He told the Herald how it is a ‘good bit of fun’ which raises great awareness for men’s health, but admits there are drawbacks.
“To begin with its quite annoying but then you grow to love it. I just shaved mine off and I actually miss it. Of course my missus didn’t like it at all.”
Although he did not raise money this year due to other fundraisers at the school, last year they raised £315 for the cause and on Friday the students all wore fake moustaches to show their support.
“The kids love it because it’s just a bit of fun and something different,” he added.
Rory Ferguson, from Enniskillen, now working in Liverpool, has raised around £70 between Facebook and work for ‘Movember’.
“I think the lads from work persuaded me,” Rory explained, “Although I think its a great cause as men are generally awful at going to the doctors about stuff. The reaction? Generally mixed between laughter and disgust. Food is starting to catch in it so yes very glad to see the end.”
Matthew Balmer from Enniskillen and a student in Edinburgh was keen to raise awareness about prostate cancer, but also enjoy a bit of fun with his friends. He conceded though, it has been a long month.
“The month has been quite long, especially the first few weeks, there was a time when I wondered if I would only be left with a slightly shadowed upper lip, having said that I’m still waiting on some of the gaps to fill.
“Over the last two days, the reaction was quite positive however the weeks leading up did nothing for my self-confidence.
“It was always very humbling to walk past a fellow mo-bro with a handle bar tache and realise my feeble attempt.
“As much as I will miss it, the pupils in the class that I am teaching have greatly anticipated the end of Movember. All I can do now is hold this bad boy back until letting it loose again next year.”
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