Former Kenora fire chief Warren Brinkman had worn his moustache for at least 20 years, by Korbyn Lofgren’s estimate. Then, about a decade ago, Brinkman shaved it off at the end of November for Movember.
Now Kenora firefighters are bringing back the challenge. If their Movember team raises $5,000 for men’s health, every firefighter with a moustache will shave it off.
That could mean a lot of bare upper lips at the fire hall. The Kenora Professional Fire Fighters Association says more than half its members have moustaches, and some have worn theirs for more than a decade.
If the team reaches its goal, the public will be invited to watch the shave-off at Station 1 on Nov. 30. Lofgren said the crew may also livestream it on Facebook.
Kenora firefighters have raised about $23,500 for Movember since 2020 and have reached the $5,000 mark several times, Lofgren said. All the money goes to the Movember Foundation, which supports men’s mental health and suicide prevention, as well as efforts to address prostate and testicular cancer.
“The moustaches are just a fun way to bring attention to something more serious,” Lofgren said.
“Whether it’s a father, brother, son, husband or friend, we all know someone who could benefit from these conversations.”
Lofgren hopes the campaign encourages anyone who’s struggling to talk to a co-worker, a friend, a family member or a professional.
“Even if this campaign gets one person talking about their mental health or reaching out for help, I think that we’ve accomplished something important.”
You can donate through the Kenora Fire and Emergency Services team page on the Movember website.
