Movember: 'Men's health issues don't get the limelight women's do'

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4: Three of the Warwick Academy “Mo-Bros” talk to the Bermuda Sun about why they decided to join the Movember cause.  The hope to raise $5,000 by the end of the month for research and support in prostate and testicular cancer.

Deputy principal at Warwick Academy Andy Fields organized the Movember fundraising event at  the school.

He said he hoped it would give more prominence to men’s health issues.

He said: “In general, men’s health issues don’t tend to get the limelight from the media or in general as women’s issues do.

As a school we have always supported breast cancer.

“Breast cancer has worldwide appeal but men’s health does not tend to be talked about. 

“A lot of men do not deal with these issues well and that’s the reason we are doing this.

He said that team Mo-sketeers’ “raison d’etre” was: “to bring testicles and prostates into the limelight as breasts have been out in front for too long”.

“The kids are talking about it already at school so again conversations are starting up.

“I wont malign our year 13 boys but permission was given to them to do it as well but the boys said they had great difficulty growing their facial hair in the first place they weren’t willing to take it off and try to re-grow it.

Field’s father had cancer but has been cleared now. He  had his vocal chords taken out and he has been cancer free for five years. n

‘Students are asking about it’

Science and chemistry teacher Adam Griffiths said that his students have already started showing an interest in why he has a dark shadow on his face.

He hopes that through his participation in Movember, his students and the community at large will be educated about prostate and testicular cancer.

He said: “Testicular cancer in particular is very curable so it is to encourage people to go out and get checked.

“We had breast cancer awareness last month and it’s just good for the kids to be aware as well as bringing the male members of staff together. My students are asking why we have shaved and what is going on and we will be presenting information about it over the month during tutor time.” n

‘Usually I shave for charity’

Eric Totten is more used to losing his hair for charity than gaining it. In years gone by, he and his wife have had their heads shaved as part of cancer fundraiser St Baldrick’s Day.

This year will be the first time the ITC teacher has taken part in Movember and he is already in discussion with his six-year-son about what type of moustache he should have.

“We might have to do the trucker with the long handlebars down the side,” he said. “But my son likes anything that curls up on the sides so we’ll see what happens.

“I find it much easier to shave my head than to grow a moustache — it bothers me so it’s going to be a long month. I’ve done a beard before but which seems okay to me but something about the moustache, I don’t know – it just doesn’t sit right with me.”

The cause is close to Totten’s heart as his father died of pancreatic cancer but he had a bout of prostate cancer.

“That type of thing is always on my mind and so anything to do to raise a few funds is always a good thing. I want to raise awareness around the school as well —we did St Baldricks when I was teaching at Saltus and it’s kind of the same mentality — the more the kids see you doing, the more awareness it can bring to them and get them thinking about something more than their own day to day lives as well. “The hope with this event is to raise awareness so people will get themselves checked out.”

Anyone interested in donating to Team Mo-sketeers or any other local “mo-bros” may do so via www.cancer.bm. Click on the Movember page and view “sponsor someone”. For information on cancer support call 232-2247.