Elbow Beach 'Mo-bros' reveal their motivation

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 7: Men’s health is top of the agenda during November’s charity fundraiser — Movember. We spoke to two ‘Mo-bros’ about why they decided to participate. 

The prevalence of cancer in Bermuda is what urged Elbow Beach accountant Francis Grenardo to get his health checked out by the doctor and that is when he found out he had lung cancer.

He has decided to take part in this year’s charity fundraiser Movember to encourage men to take their health seriously.

“It is about men being mentally aware that we should know ourselves,” he told the Bermuda Sun. “Nobody likes doctors but if you think there is something off with you, just check it out.”

He is one of a team of five Elbow Beach staff  members who are growing their moustaches though the month of November to help raise funds for and awareness of men’s health.

Another team member is the hotel’s executive chef Serge Bottelli who shaved off his signature moustache at last week’s Movember “shave-off” marking the start of Movember. It was the first time he had taken off his ‘tache’ in 28 years —the time before was on his wedding day in 1984.

“My wife was laughing when I was having it shaved off and my daughter looked at me said ‘daddy, that’s weird’. This morning too, even the dog looked at me strangely!”

The other team members at Elbow Beach are Michael Davis, Matt McBeath, and Dupre Wilmot.

Movember is run by the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and this year Elbow Beach has sponsored the event. The hotel is to host all the events at and has special spa offers throughout the month. All of BCHC’s men’s health initiatives are funded by the island’s local Movember campaign to raise awareness, with a focus on prostate cancer. On average, men die six years younger than women which is, in part, due to the fact that women see their doctors more often. This can be combatted largely through early detection of disease and regular health check-ups.

Support

Francis was diagnosed in 2009 and while he is clear of cancer he still travels to the US every six months to get checked up. He said that he could not have coped without the support of his friends and family, in particular his wife Deborah. A positive mental outlook also helped to get him through.

“I had lots of support I have got a great support team, in Bermuda, New York, all over. I’ve got some sisters who would walk on bare ice for me when I was sick — I was totally pampered. The support I got from them is something that everyone should have because I know a lot of people go away and there is no one there for them. I wouldn’t be able to take that. It’s all there in your mind you know, you tell yourself you are going to get through this.”

Francis said that one of the worst parts of his experience with cancer was going through chemotherapy.

“I hate chemo — it is the worst. The first session is nothing. The second session my hair began coming off. I thought okay, time to shave. The third session I didn’t want to eat or drink for five days and I think everyone around me was more worried than I was.

“I’d take a bottle of water and it tasted like garbage. Chemo is poison — it really is poison. After the fifth day I got some wonton soup and it worked. And that was it, I have been eating ever since I put on the 35 pounds I lost plus a couple more!”

Francis was diagnosed with stage 3a cancer but if he had had more regular check-ups he might have caught it earlier.

Shame in your game

His message to the island’s men is: “November should be for all men — put some shame in your game and like yourself a little bit. Check yourself. Mine was stage 3a. If you really push yourself and get all your check-ups you will be able to get it in the first stage.”

Serge admits that men can be less responsible about their health than women and wanted to take part in Movember to help change that.

Setting an example he has organized a check-up along with his wife.

“Men are chickens,” he told us.

“You are scared to have an answer most of the time when we know something is wrong.

“We often see more awareness for the ladies than for men — breast cancer awareness, diet care is more geared toward the female. The boys are forgotten because we want to be forgotten, we want to hide.”

Speaking of his newly bare upper lip he told us: 

“My signature tache has gone after 28 years, the last time I cut it was two hours before my wedding. I thought, Movember is a good cause so why not — I can still grow it back though some people say I shouldn’t...”

To donate visit http://www.cancer.bm/get-involved/sign-up-for-events. The ‘Mo-finalé takes place at Elbow Beach poolside on November 30 from 6pm to 8pm.