by Chris Wells, staff writer
Students throughout the month of November showed their support in raising awareness for cancer by participating in No-Shave November, a month long event where participants embrace the growth of their hair; which many cancer patients lose.
No-Shave November is a way for men and women to grow out their hair to bring awareness to cancer. This movement is aimed to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments. One idea is that the money saved on not buying shaving products goes to the awareness of cancer.
This event originated in Adelaide, Australia when a group of 80 men in a pub decided to grow mustaches for charity throughout the month of November. They started the Movember foundation and began to sell shirts for fundraising. The Movember foundation has since raised $174 million worldwide. This small idea became an international phenomenon.
This movement reached FVHS when some Barons spent the month in support of No-Shave November by growing out their hair. Students like Jake May (’15), Dominic Cunneen (’15) and Seth Marx (’15), participated by growing out their facial hair. However, not all students were informed of the meaning behind the action.
“Last year, I was indifferent towards No-Shave November because I just thought people were growing beards because it was some new trend,” said Silvester Gomez (’15). “But once I found out what the actual purpose of it was, I was all for it. There’s no harm in letting a little hair grow on your face.”
Not only do males participate in No-Shave November, but so do some Lady Barons. Tegan Roberts (’16) supported this event originally as a way to respond to a male telling her he thought it was “gross” when girls had body hair.
“I, of course, live for grossing out misogynistic teenage boys, so originally it was a feminist act,” said Roberts. “It wasn’t until about a week in I found out it was in support of cancer foundations and I started speaking out about it more.”
Regardless of intent, Barons spent November spreading awareness of cancer through growing out their hair.
