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Community News: Hairy Faces For Abbotsford Fire Fighters

Posted by on November 3, 2011

By Shaheen Shivji. Handlebars, fu manchus, soul patches, pencils are just a few moustache styles many Abbotsford fire fighters will be sporting this Movember. [Click On Image For Full Story]

In its fifth year, the global fundraiser sees men, also known as Mo’ Bros, grow moustaches throughout November to raise money for prostate cancer research—the most common cancer in men.

One in seven will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

Abbotsford Fire Chief, Don Beer checking out his moustache

Fire fighters have a greater risk than the general public of getting cancers because in their line of work inhaling toxins is not uncommon. “It is my first year participating in movember, primarily because I want to help raise awareness about this cancer … We need to look after our health and if this cancer is detected early enough treatment can be successful,” said Abbotsford Fire Chief, Don Beer.

Earlier this year, a national survey released by Prostate Cancer Canada showed that 58 per cent of Canadians are unaware of the prostate cancer antigen (PSA) test—a simple test that is crucial in saving lives.The online survey also showed that 1,500 men and women confirmed that familiarity with prostate cancer is not prompting men to take early action to detect the disease.

Abbotsford Deputy Fire Chief, Mike Helmer, draws handlebar style moustache on post it not stuck Mo' Sista, Jess Main


Last year, Canadian Mo’ Bros and Mo’ Sistas raised over $22 million for prostate cancer research.
Movember began in 2004 in Melbourne Australia. The movement has since gone global with over 1.1 million participants.
“My wife is looking forward to the end of the month when I shave this off,” added Beer laughingly.

The facts about prostate cancer -

• 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed.
• Prostate cancer is as prevalent in men as breast cancer is in women.
• Prostate cancer is the most common cancer to afflict Canadian men.
• Prostate cancer develops as a result of dietary, environmental and hereditary factors.
• On average, 70 Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer every day.
• On average, 11 Canadian men will die of prostate cancer every day.
• Men with a family history of prostate cancer and those of African or Caribbean descent are at a greater risk of developing the disease.
• Over 90% of prostate cancer cases are curable if detected and treated in their earliest stages.

From Movember.ca

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Shaheen Shivji

Shaheen Shivji

Shaheen Shivji has a Bachelors Degree from UFV in Media and Communications and is an award-winning Media and Communications professional who writes for abbotsfordtoday.ca. If you have a story idea and/or news tip email her at editor@abbotsfordtoday.ca

About Editor

Mike spent 20 years in the newspaper business as a journalist, editor, sales manager and publisher before moving into public relations and business consulting. In 2008 he became founding editor of the Abbotsford Post and he is co-owner of Today Media Group. Mike graduated from the University of Alberta in 1970 with a BA in Political Science and Economics and has since pursued graduate studies in both Federalism and Journalism. He has a Diploma in Web Design from Academy of Learning.