With the November days passing by, Nanaimo’s moustaches are becoming bushier.
Movember-related events in the community are raising money for charity and supporting men’s health.
Movember began in 2003 in Australia and has evolved into an international fundraising event raising awareness about prostate and testicular cancer and other health issues.
Prime Sport Performance and Therapy will host a Movember Stash Bash charity high-intensity interval training session next weekend. Clayton Smith, Prime Sport’s owner, said the amount raised goes to the Movember Foundation. The goal for 2018 is $1,500 and a total of $2,529 has been raised over the past four years.
“We’ve got prowler sleds, we’ve got battle ropes … we have 3,000 square feet of indoor turf which allows athletes to be able to push sleds, do bear crawls, all that kind of fun stuff,” said Smith. “There’s lots of kettlebells, lots of banded resistance sprints and the nice thing is, all of our coaches have offered to … volunteer their time.”
Prizes will be handed out for best moustaches, said Smith.
The Nanaimo Clippers are also taking part in Movember, with players, coaches and staff growing moustaches and accepting donations at November home games and online.
Paul German, Clippers director of business operations, said players are sporting some interesting ’staches.
“We’re going to have some grand prize winners for sure … we’re challenging the guys to have some fun with it internally, to be creative with their ‘mos,’” said German.
Clippers coach Darren Naylor was asked about his players’ moustaches.
“I don’t know what to say – they need some work,” he said.
The Nanaimo Clipper ‘mo grand champion’ will be revealed at the end of the month via social media.
The eighth annual Garrett Paquette Momo Seafood Extravaganza takes place Nov. 23 at Vancouver Island Conference Centre beginning at 5:30 p.m. It seeks to raise awareness about prostate cancer, but proceeds will go to the Garrett Paquette Fund for Families, held in trust by the Nanaimo Foundation, and Nanaimo Aboriginal Centre, as the majority of the seafood is from local First Nations, according to Sarah Pachkowsky, organizer.
Pachkowsky said Paquette, who died in an ATV accident in 2011, was fundraising for Movember when he died and while proceeds of his memorial event previously went toward Movember, it has since changed to reflect that Paquette was big on supporting local causes.
“If a family is in need, and they are in distress for some reason, they can apply for this money,” said Pachkowsky.
Pachkowsky said total money raised over the last eight years is approaching the $500,000 mark.
The Movember Stash Bash HIIT session is Nov. 24 from 10-11:30 a.m. at 1970 Island Diesel Way, with a minimum donation of $10. To register, go to https://ca.movember.com/en/events/view/id/LN1O. To donate to the Clippers campaign online, go to www.movember.com/team/2323580. To purchase tickets for the seafood extravaganza, go to www.nanaimofoundation.com and click on the Momo Seafood Extravaganza link.
-with files from Greg Sakaki/News Bulletin
reporter@nanaimobulletin.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter