'Movember' highlights men's health issues
Sean Hoxie, foreground, and Jason Koziol are two of several Moses Lake firefighters who have been sporting moustaches this month as part of an awareness campaign for men's health.
MOSES LAKE - A handful of Moses Lake firefighters sprouted mustaches over the past month as part of a campaign to fight cancers that primarily affect men.
"Movember" is a global fund-raising campaign and competition held during the month of November in which participating men let their lip hair grow to raise awareness and money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
Firefighter Jason Koziol decided to try to get fellow members of Moses Lake Local Firefighters Union 2052 onboard for the first time this year and said about 10 people grew mustache's, "some good, some barely there and some downright creepy."
"It is no coincidence that studies show firefighters are far more likely than the general population to suffer from prostate cancer, testicular cancer, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma," Koziol said.
Koziol said his own mustache has gotten "mixed reviews." His personal growing efforts raised about $30, which he said may not be much but it's for a good cause.
The fund-raiser has globally brought in more than $82 million this month, according to the organization's website.
And while the official end of Movember is now at hand, Koziol remarked people can still donate to the cause by visiting www.mobro.co/mlfdlocal2052/d.
Now that the month is over, firefighter Sean Hoxie said he'll probably shave off his somewhat sparse, but well-groomed, handlebar mustache.
"It's still itchy," he said.