A last minute decision grew into a substantial fundraiser for a group of local residents.
The small team of volunteers grew moustaches during the month of November as part of the world-wide phenomenon known as “Movember” - a charitable endeavour aimed at raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer. The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember.
In the end, the local group raised over $4,000 for the cause, despite the fact the decision to form a local team was only launched on Halloween night after a casual discussion between friends Kyle Bennett, Ryan Larson and Merrick Goldstein.
“It turned out better than any of us expected,” said Bennett, who was recruited to serve as the group’s captain. “Our original goal was to raise $2,000 and we more than doubled that total.  And I’ve had a lot of people who’ve told me they want to join us next year. So hopefully, with a little more time to prepare next year, we’ll get a lot more people to jump on board with us.”
Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache.
The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia.  The plan was simple - to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men’s health. No money was raised in 2003, but the guys behind the Mo realized the potential a moustache had in generating conversations about men’s health.  Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement. 
In 2004 the campaign evolved and focused on raising awareness and funds for the number one cancer affecting men - prostate cancer
The Movember moustache has continued to grow year after year, expanding to Canada, the US, UK, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, Russia, the Netherlands and Finland. 
There were 118,897 participants registered with the program in Canada this year, raising a record $20.8 million, a hefty increase from the $7.8 million collected in 2009.
Australia had 129,855 participants this year, who raised $20.77 million. The United States, meanwhile, was third and raised just over $13 million.
In 2009, global participation climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $47 Million for Movember’s global beneficiary partners. Canada and Australia’s contributions alone surpassed those totals this year.
This is the first year the challenge has been launched in Shaunavon.
The local team carried the name “Captain Mo and the Happy Pants,” thanks to a little colorful ingenuity from team member Ryan Larson.  
Bennett says along with raising funds, and having some fun in the process, the group also wanted the local effort to help encourage men to get regular check ups. He says that many men are often unwilling to be tested for the disease for reasons of inconvenience or embarrassment.
The funds raised through Movember’s Canadian campaign go directly to Prostate Cancer Canada which enables them to fund vital research that will lead to better screening tests and treatment options and to run support services for men surviving prostate cancer.
The local fundraisers included ‘Mo Bros.’ Kyle Bennett, Merrick Goldstein, Ryan Larson, Jay Meyer, Dan Island, Kevin Szwetz, Loren Hamel Ryan Wallis and ‘Mo Sistas’ Janelle Wickstrom and Ava Kalaschnick, who were not growing moustaches for the project but were helping raise awareness and funds. Former Shaunavon resident Chris Kozun was also part of the group.
The rules of the fundraising initiative are simple. Participants start clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. 
The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health.  Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.
Some members of the local group shaved at the end of the month, while others continued the challenge until Dec. 9th when the team got together for a special gathering at the Historic Shaunavon Hotel.
The event raised another $500 for the campaign and included an auction bid for shaving rights on the participants, as well as a prize package raffle (comprised of items donated by the hotel) and a 50/50 raffle. 
The group also recruited a couple of volunteers, from among hotel patrons, who were willing to have their own facial hair shaved off during the evening festivities.
“I think in the end we got more bids from the volunteers who were shaved than we did for our team members,” laughed Bennett.
“The whole experience just turned out to be a lot of fun for us,” Bennett said of the month-long project. “We all had a blast and raised some money for a great cause at the same time.”
“I have to thank my team members for getting involved and donating their time and lip to the cause,” he concluded. “I would also like to thank all the generous sponsors and the public support through the whole month of Movember. We had a great time and can’t wait for next Movember to arrive!