Join the Canadian Cancer Society and the Kootenay Ice Hockey team as we put men’s health issues at center ice with “Grow-vember”. This health campaign focuses on men’s cancers that occur "below the belt” because it's cool for guys to know their equipment!
According to Patti Moore, Health Promotion Coordinator for the Canadian Cancer Society, 3,100 British Columbian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. “In addition to prostate cancer, this men’s health initiative is also focused on colon and testicular cancers. The second most common cancer-related death in men is colon cancer. Also, men between the ages of 15 and 49 are at a higher risk for testicular cancer.”
This month-long campaign will kick off at the Kootenay Ice home game on October 29, 2010. The Canadian Cancer Society will be at the game encouraging men to ‘get to know their equipment’, providing information on men's health and selling balls for a ball toss during the second intermission for a chance to win a great prize.
“We are very excited to be working with the Kootenay Ice as these young, cool, healthy players are role models for local youth and young adults in our community. It is cool to know your body and to be pro-active when it comes to our health.” says Canadian Cancer Society Revenue Development Coordinator Lori Stevenson.
In addition to the ball toss, the Ice have agreed to Raffle-a-player over the month as well. This raffle is geared toward the Ice’s younger fans and the winner along with five of their friends will get to spend an hour with the player of their choice. “How cool is that? You can spend your time on the ice, have the player attend your birthday party, or go for lunch – whatever you want!” Stevenson adds that these raffle tickets will be on sale throughout the month of November at many local Cranbrook businesses as well as at game night October 29th.
As they do every year, the Kootenay Ice players will go unshaven for the month of November. This year, we are asking all their male fans to join in and do the same! Send us a photo of your mustache/beard/goatee and you can be entered to win deluxe box seats for an Ice home game in December! Email your photos to growvember@gmail.com.
“Photos will be posted to the Kootenay Ice website and the Canadian Cancer Society Grow-vember Facebook page,” says CCS volunteer Michelle Longtin. “Throughout the month, you can also nominate your favorite local facial hair-sporting celebrity to shave off their facial hair to help raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society's mission to eradicate cancer and enhance the lives of those living with cancer. Any celebrity nominated who chooses to accept the challenge will have a fundraising page created to track the progress toward their goal.”
Longtin is excited to see the community get involved with this campaign and people to participate. “Join us again for wrap up on November 20th, where we will be distributing fake mustaches so that every fan, men and women alike can sport facial hair and turn the Rec-Plex into a “Sea of ‘staches” raising awareness for men’s health. The Ice players will be at center ice after the game to once again become the clean shaven role models we are used to.”
For more information contact the Canadian Cancer Society at 250-426-8916 or the Kootenay Ice at 417-0322.