REGINA – A couple of Saskatchewan government ministers helped kicked off the local Movember campaign Saturday morning with a clean shave.
“Part of my motivation this year is one of my colleagues, the agriculture minister Lyle Stewart, is currently undergoing treatment for prostate cancer and so there’s a number of us at the legislature, on the government benches that are really doing this as a way of showing our support for Lyle,” said Dustin Duncan, the minister of health.
Duncan and Greg Ottenbreit, the minister of rural and remote health, bid farewell to their facial hair at Ragged Ass Barbers.
The global campaign, which started in Australia over a decade ago, focuses on men’s health. Men are encouraged to grow moustaches to act as conversation starters.
Movember brings in tens of millions of dollars of donations each year to support organizations that deal with issues including prostate and testicular cancers, and mental health.
Women – or “Mo Sistas” – are also encouraged to take part.
“What they really do is play a critical role in ensuring that the men in their lives are being proactive about their health,” said Melissa Fiacco, a member of the Movember Regina committee. “Mo Sistas exist to support the Mo Bros in their lives.”
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The city’s fire chief Ernie Polsom got his moustache shaved off after 28 years of maintaining it. He has personal connections to cancers that predominately affect men.
“I’ve lost a father-in-law, a grandfather, and have had an awful lot of friends both in the fire service and outside of it who have suffered from this disease,” he said.
He also had his own health scare a few years ago, one he wants to help prevent happen to others.
“My challenge to everybody is: see your doc’, get checked every year. It’s not the most pleasant tests in the world, but it’ll save your life,” said Polsom.
Close to 700 men in Saskatchewan will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year, according to Duncan.
To get involved in the campaign, visit: ca.movember.com.
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