Courtesy Corey LeBlanc, The Casket

Things are getting a little hairy with StFX Athletics, but in a great way.

Twenty-six men, including student-athletes, coaches and event staff have taken on the Movember challenge, growing mustaches as part of the annual fundraising and awareness campaign for men’s health issues, including cancers such as prostate and testicular.

“There is a history of it in my family,” Dave Benoit, a member of the StFX X-Men basketball team, said when asked about his participation. “It is not only about awareness but also raising money for a worthy cause,” he added.

Brennen Wray, of the StFX X-Men hockey team agreed. “It’s also a great excuse to grow one and not have to shave,” he said.

Since the start of Movember, participants have been getting weekly pictures taken, an ongoing record of their mustache growth – or lack thereof, in some cases. The collages on the StFX Athletics’ Facebook page have become popular. “There are some interesting ones, that’s for sure,” Leah Chisholm, StFX Athletics marketing and communications intern said.

There has been some friendly competition – along with ongoing debate – about who is sporting the nicest (or at least ‘best’ or ‘worst’ upper lip). Some, including Benoit, have taken further measures, resorting to a dye touch-up in order to illuminate the follicles. “It makes it look fuller,” Benoit said.

Chisholm said it seems that approach has been one taken by those with lighter coloured hair. “They are having a lot of fun with it,” she said.

Along with the good-natured aspect of the mustache mania in the department, Chisholm everyone has embraced the initiative, noting a representative from each varsity team – men and women – is participating. “We have had a great response. Everyone is having fun with it, while helping out with a worthy cause,” Chisholm said.

As the website (www.movember.com) indicates, “as an official global charity, Movember’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of millions of moustaches around the world.”

As part of a broader Movember fundraiser initiated by the StFX Students’ Union, the athletic department team has raised more than $350 thus far. “It has started to pick up more and more as the month has gone along,” Chisholm said of the financial response, noting the broader StFX effort has garnered more than $5,392.

To contribute to the StFX Movember campaign, visit http://ca.movember.com/mospace/8270153

The StFX Athletics team is one of many in the Antigonish area to embrace the hairy challenge. Six members of the Casket-Bounty Print family are also putting down their razors during the month. Donations to their team can be made at http://ca.movember.com/team/1245893.