College’s mustachioed money-raisers collect £600 for charity

Moustachioed money-raisers from Canterbury College have collected nearly £600 for men’s health charities by taking part in Movember.

Ten male members of staff grew moustaches in aid of prostate and cancer charities. They began growing their upper-lip hair on Tuesday, 1 November, and could not remove it until Thursday, 1 December.

Staff members Andrew Dowell, Russell Griffiths, David Howard, Stelian Beganu, Matthew Jenkinson, Vincent McCurry, Robin Cousins, Michael Gaughran, James Reeves and Paul Crudge all sported fetching facial fuzz for the entire month.

Some favoured a Dennis Hopper-style handlebar moustache, while others went for the slick Des Lynam look. They raised £418 via a donation website, and a further £180 from collection pots – a total of £598.

Sport lecturer Andrew Dowell, who organised the fundraising, said: “We decided to take part in Movember at College because it is a charity that hits close to home. Some staff members have seen family members suffer prostate cancer and other cancers that predominantly affect men. I’d like to thank all the staff that took part and everyone that donated.”

Health and Social Care lecturer Vincent McCurry went for the Errol Flynn-style moustache. He said: “I was the proud owner of a fully formed soup strainer. I looked at least 10 years older and people would stare at me. After a while they stopped asking me if the moustache was serious because they were worried I might answer yes.”

Canterbury College’s total went towards the £64 million of Movember money raised worldwide.