NEWS RELEASE
TOWNSHIP OF TINY
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The Township of Tiny’s Volunteer Firefighters are partnering with the Midland, Penetanguishene, and Tay Fire Departments for the third year for the Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters’ Movember campaign that takes place during the month of November. The Wasaga Beach Fire Department will be joining the team for 2024.
Since 2003, the Movember campaign has used the moustache as a symbol to focus on raising awareness and money for men’s health initiatives including mental health and suicide prevention, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer.
“The Movember campaign draws attention to the conversations we need to be having about our physical and mental well-being with our friends and loved ones and encouraging them to seek help when they need it,” said Dave Flewelling, Director of Fire and Emergency Services/Fire Chief. “The event also helps raise funds for life saving health research and initiatives.”
This year, the Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters, led by team co-captains Samantha Barnett and Ky Winstanley-Hayes, kicked off the Movember campaign with a charity golf tournament at Brooklea Golf and Country Club in September, raising $3,500.
“While the goal of our Movember campaign is to raise money to help fund initiatives for men’s health, the real goal in my opinion is to start a conversation that can make a positive difference in someone’s life,” said Ky Winstanley-Hayes, team co-captain and Tiny volunteer firefighter. “A simple phone call or text asking how someone is doing and that they matter to you, it can make larger difference than any amount of money raised.”
Thanks to the ongoing support from the community, the Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters team has topped the fundraising charts for Movember for three years in a row, earning the top titles for Canadian Fire Department, Firefighter, and Female in Canada.
In 2023 co-captain Samantha Barnett won the first-ever “Mo Your Own Way” award, and the Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters were nominated for Team Movember (Canada). Last year, the team raised a total of $55,787. To learn more about the participating firefighters, or to donate to the team’s campaign goal, visit www.tiny.ca/fire.
“As we enter another cycle of fundraising for men’s health, it is crucial that the individuals who see us or hear us are having conversations about your family history/mental health with their loved ones. Awareness is an essential component for the month-long campaign,” said Samantha Barnett, team co-captain and Tiny volunteer firefighter.
For more information on upcoming Movember events throughout the community, visit www.tiny.ca/events.
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