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‘Sport a Movember mo for charity’

08 November 2013

DEMOTIX

Serious: a competitor at the World Beard and Moustache Championships, in Leinfelden, Germany, on Saturday 

Serious: a competitor at the World Beard and Moustache Championships, in Leinfelden, Germany, on Saturday 

CHRISTIAN men across the nation are being encouraged to grow a "Holy Mo" throughout November as part of an annual charity fund-raiser.

The Movember charity, which has been urging men to grow moustaches to raise money and awareness for male cancers since 2003, has launched the "Holy Mo Challenge" to "let faith communities show off their renowned capacity for facial growth".

A priest who survived prostate cancer said that, besides being a "fabulous cause", Movember was also good fun.

The associate priest of St Michael's, Flixton, in Greater Manchester, the Revd Alex Clephane, said: "I was given the all-clear last year and there are quite a few in our congregation who have gone through it as well. The attention given to prostate cancer during Movember is going to help people to go to the doctor and get checked. It's a fantastic cause and a bit of fun."

The Bishop of Carlisle, the Rt Revd James Newcome, the Church's lead bishop on health care, said: "Many lives, including those of my friends and colleagues, have been impacted by testicular and prostate cancer, and by the stigma attached to talking about them. I would like to commend Movember for encouraging faith communities to engage with issues of men's health and encourage people to consider growing a moustache this Movember, proudly sporting Holy Mos in our communities and supporting those who do."

Some 15 male ordinands at Cranmer Hall theological college in Durham have joined the challenge this year. Their Movember team captain, Chris Lawton, said: "A lot of the people here have relatives affected by the male cancers. Last year, we raised £500 at Cranmer and another £500 with the undergraduates, but we are looking to substantially outgrow that this year."

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