Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation is once again finding itself in a somewhat hairy situation with Brovember, a local twist on the Movember men’s health movement.
The foundation is inviting men in the central Island region to grow a ’stache for cash or pledge a bro to grow one and raise money for men’s health, specifically to help Nanaimo Regional General Hospital buy new cystoscope units to diagnose prostate cancer.
“A cystocope checks out bladder issues and that sort of thing, but it also checks out your prostate to see if you have any prostate issues,” said Feron Walker, foundation spokeswoman.
Brovember has raised $27,000 since it was started in 2010 and organizers hope to reach this year’s goal, set at $25,000.
Each cystoscope costs about $17,000, but supplies and replacement parts are also needed for existing units.
Men with local business groups and service clubs and medical professionals have followed their competitive instincts, joined the Brovember movement and ritually cast aside their razors to take a crack at winning the coveted Brovember Cup, not to show off their ability to grow monumental moustaches, but to display their prowess as premier pledge earners.
“We like to keep the money local and all our money stays local,” Walker said.
No moustache will be ignored. Prizes will be awarded for creativity and best attempt for those wispy wannabes.
For more information or to register for Brovember, please visit www.nanaimohospitalfoundation.com.
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