Local men are encouraged to cut the shaving during November to support a very worthy cause.
‘No Shave November’ is meant to both bolster awareness of and raise research funds for prostate cancer - a disease that affects one in seven men.
“Let’s see what we can do as a whole community,” said David Stadelmann, event organizer, adding that funds raised via the campaign will go towards prostate cancer research.
On Nov. 30th, participants are also asked to take both a ‘before shave’ and ‘after shave’ picture and post it (on the Facebook page). Collected donations can also be dropped off through the month at the Stettler RBC or by email transfer to david.stadelmann@rbc.com.
“On December 1st, we will announce the total raised and donate it to the Cancer Society.”
Stadelmann noted that this year marks RBC’s 150th anniversary as a company in Canada.
“They nominated different branch employees all over Canada and then gave money for us to go out and do something charitable with it,” he said.
“So I thought, let’s try and grow this (No Shave November) into something bigger, and to also make it really about the community,” he explained, adding he went with the moniker of ‘No Shave November’ over ‘Movember’ so as to also encourage women to support the cause as well. They can even take part by not shaving their legs if they choose, he added.
In the meantime, he has also set up a Facebook page at ‘Stettler No Shave November 2019’.
According to Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC), prostate cancer is the most common cancer to affect Canadian men.
Prostate cancer is a disease where some prostate cells have lost normal control of growth and division. They no longer function as healthy cells.
The latest statistics from 2017 showed that 21,300 Canadian men were diagnosed with the disease that year, and 4,100 were expected to die from it that year as well.
It can be slow-growing and some men who develop prostate cancer may live many years without ever having the cancer detected.
“It is important to get screened regularly so that if you do develop prostate cancer, the appropriate action can be taken. A significant proportion of prostate cancers, if untreated, may have serious consequences,” notes the PCC web site.
Again according to the Prostate Cancer Canada, “Age is the strongest risk factor for prostate cancer. Your risk increases as you get older. Prostate cancer mainly affects men over the age of 50, and the majority of cases are diagnosed in men over age 65. Prostate Cancer Canada recommends that men should discuss getting a PSA test with their doctor when they are 50.
“If you think you are at higher than average risk, you should consider having this discussion earlier.”
As Stadelmann pointed out, awareness about prostate cancer these days is relatively strong - what’s needed more than ever are the research dollars.
“Now it’s about bringing money in and doing something more about it,” he said.
”I hope it’s a cause that we as a community can rally around.”
@mweberRDExpress
editor@stettlerindependent.com.com
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