If you see clean-shaven faces entering into December, and even one prominent shaved head, let it be known that those shaves were well-earned.
Local results from the 2023 Movember charity drive were announced by Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters team captain Samantha Barnett this week.
“(Unofficially), our team raised an incredible $50,726,” stated Barnett, a Tiny Township volunteer firefighter who herself raised $11,000 in part for the team. “Our goal this year was $45,000 and we surpassed it.”
Movember is a fundraising campaign held each November to raise awareness and support towards prostate cancer, testicular cancer, men’s mental health, and suicide prevention. The charity initiative involves the growth of moustaches and use of temporary moustache tattoos as a visual mark, and includes donation drives and inspiring motivational activities like running as a means to show support from everyone involved.
In previous years, members of Tiny Township council have boasted their praise of the SGB Firefighter team having beaten other fire service teams across the continent, with the Toronto Firefighters team noted as a specific target in the friendly Great Canadian Fire Challenge that overall collected roughly $550,000 for the charity.
“I love the friendly competition between the other fire departments,” added Barnett. “At the end of the day we are all on the same team and we find ways to support each other. For instance, Toronto has an amazing Battle of the Bands event that a few of us attended and it was so fun.
“We network together, we support each other and I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be surrounded by. Special shout out to the Durham/Pickering Region team that really kept us on our toes this year, raising over $36,000,” Barnett noted.
While the local team faced a challenge having less boot drives as a way to stave off fundraising fatigue, other fun and creative donation collection methods were employed.
One such fundraising effort came about from Tiny Township Deputy Mayor Sean Miskimins, who announced that he was doing two collection efforts in a ‘Save It or Shave It’ campaign over his self-described “luscious locks”.
“Between the two fundraising links, I raised over $1,300,” said Miskimins. “Those who contributed really wanted to see my long locks gone. ‘Shave It’ was a landslide victory with it beating Save It by $1,200.” Showcasing the haircut through social media video, he admitted he felt colder entering into the winter season.
“One of the benefits of having it exposed is that I can wear any hat without having to worry about getting hat- or toque-head. I'm also saving a ton on shampoo, conditioner and product,” Miskimins added. “I've also saved at least 30 minutes every morning as I don't need to blow dry or straighten the hair. The biggest surprise to the new 'do is how much silver there is now.”
SGB Firefighters fundraising for Movember took place throughout the year. However, Barnett noted that Movember wasn’t the only charity campaign that local firefighters raised collections toward.
“This December, we will be at various food and toy drives to help families in our community prepare for the holidays,” said Barnett. “The community extends a helping hand to us and we like to do the same.”
Barnett thanked nearly 30 contributing organizations and many more individuals who can be found on the official Southern Georgian Bay Firefighters page of the Movember campaign.
