The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

IT MIGHT appear to be the latest trend in male grooming but is, in fact, an international charitable initiative which many Bahamian men are embracing by taking on the “Movember” challenge backed by Rotary Clubs of The Bahamas West and Tribune Radio.

The annual event is celebrated worldwide during the month of November encouraging men to grow moustaches and beards in effort to raise awareness of men’s health issues, including prostate cancer.

For Tim Ingraham, Assistant Governor for Rotary Clubs of the Bahamas West, being diagnosed with prostate cancer earlier this year made “Movember” more urgent and personal.

“I was able to have surgery to have it removed but too many of our men ignore their health issues and they would have signs of problems and don’t bother to get them checked because it is a macho thing. Especially with prostate cancer, men are usually afraid of the ‘finger’, the digital rectal examination,” said Mr Ingraham.

The sudden and unfamiliar moustache and beard growth generates questions and conversations surrounding men’s health, Mr Ingraham said. He believes prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death among Bahamian men but it is also very treatable if they are check their health fairly early on.

“We found that even before we started this year, there were a lot of Bahamian men who were already doing the moustache growth and growing the beards during the month. We tried to harness all of that and move forward with the effort as well. We hope that ‘Movember’ becomes an annual event but we also want to keep it ongoing all year long in effort to educate on things like our local circumstance as it relates to statistics. In the United States the average age for men being diagnosed with prostate cancer is 62 whereas in the Bahamas the age is 52. This is about making sure men understand the risks,” said Mr Ingraham.

It was during her seven-year stay in Toronto, Canada, that 100 Jamz radio personality JJ Mckenzie became aware of the ‘Movember’ movement. Her male co-workers grew their beards only for the month of November to encourage people to donate to the cause.

JJ is delighted that Radio House can utilise the platforms of their five stations in this way because there is a need for men’s health awareness in the community.

“We have the audience to educate and get the information out there so we need to use it in a positive way. Everyone is affected by cancer in this country and it is a leading cause of death for both men and women. We don’t want to see our friends and family pass away from such a horrific disease so whatever we can do to help we will,” she told Tribune Health.

Readers can look forward to what organisers are calling a “shave party” on December 2 at the Bahamian Brewery on Nassau Street to wind up ‘Movember’. “Bearded” 100 Jamz deejays and personalities will be on set to host a live broadcast. Funds raised in the ‘Movember’ initiative will assist with treatment and testing for men’s health issues in the Bahamas.