Time to shave: Movember comes to an end

• Kelowna firefighters raising funds
• Movember helps first responder’s province wide
• Men’s health important year round

Men in Kelowna and across the world are enjoying a fresh face as November comes to an end.

Participants in Movember, the world’s leading men’s charity, grew mustaches (nicknamed mo’s) all month to raise awareness for men’s health.

The organization’s three main focus areas are: mental health, prostate, and testicular cancer awareness.

“Most people know men aren’t the best at talking about their health or going to the doctor,” Mitch Hermansen, development director for Movember Canada, told Kelowna10.

“Too many men are going to the doctor late, catching cancer late. Too many men are suffering in silence, not opening up, trying to bottle things up when it comes to their mental health. And that’s why we’re taking action.”

Globally, men die an average of five years before women; oftentimes for preventable reasons. In Canada, 75 per cent of all suicides are by men.

The Kelowna Professional Firefighters Association has been involved in the charity for 13 years. This year, six men participated in the fundraiser with around a dozen more growing mo’s in solidarity.

As of Dec. 1, the team raised $785 online. The team has raised more than $15,000 over the years. Their union also donates to the cause yearly.

The Movember organization uses donations to fund programs and institutions dedicated to men’s health.

In B.C., the charity has given $426,000 to date for the First Responders Resiliency program; a four-day retreat at Logan Lake, offering mental health skills to professionals vulnerable to negative mental impacts on the job.

“Over the course of your career you might go to a whole bunch of difficult calls. And that stuff builds up," Captain Mike Hill with the Kelowna Fire Department said. "Some guys deal with it, some guys don’t deal with it so well. It doesn’t matter who you are, it’s going to affect you.

“It’s super important to me personally just because I’ve had friends that have gone down a dark path. Then I’ve had other friends that have pulled themselves out and this program helps tremendously.”

Six Kelowna firefighters have attended the retreat. Since 2017, 180 firefighters and police officers from across the province have gone there.

While Movember is over, donations are still encouraged.

“Movember and men’s health actually matters all year round and let’s keep these conversations going,” Hill said.