November sees the start of the annual Movember challenge and Merton is not missing out on the action
NOSE-NEIGHBOURS, soup-strainers and hairy flavour-savers could soon swamp Merton as men grow moustaches for the annual ‘Movember’ charity campaign.
Starting clean shaven on ‘Movember’ 1st, participants are sponsored to grow and groom their moustaches for The Prostate Cancer Charity.
At Walkabout Wimbledon all eight male staff members will join regulars to grow Mo’s.
The finest ‘tash will be crowned ‘King of Movember’ at the pub’s Movember Ball.
“The handlebar is my personal favourite,” said Deputy Manager Emma Woodland.
“It’s for a great cause and every fella secretly wants an excuse to grow one. The girl’s get involved too, it’s brilliant.”
By the end of the month Merton’s moustaches may be inescapable. Tom Barnes, 25, of Wimbledon Hill Road, Wimbledon, is looking forward to it.
He said: “I’m going for the handlebar, it’s going to be awesome. I love the idea of a pub full of people with moustaches, including the girls – how sexy is that? ”.
Individuals or teams such as ‘The Raynes Park Mo’ers’ and Mitcham’s ‘Top Lip Ticklers’ can sign up on-line at http://uk.movember.com/register/? where there is a donation page and advice on setting up moustache parties.
Movember UK organiser Laura Mair says the campaign is growing yearly, with events planned across South London.
Lewis Jones, 29, from Mitcham, is not just growing face-fur but is also running the Movember 10k in Greenwich on November 14th.
“I’ve got quite a full beard, and I’ve never grown it out, so it could be massive!” he said.
“My girlfriend thinks I’ll look like Freddie Mercury but I just hope it doesn’t slow me down to much.”
Movember started in 1997 with a handful of friends in Adelaide, Australia.
Last year 173,000 people raised over £14 million globally.
In total, Movember moustaches have raised over £30 million for the fight against prostate cancer and depression in men while increasing awareness of men’s health issues.
Last year staff at Virgin Active in South Wimbledon raised over £800 during Movember.
They posted progress reports on their sprouting moustaches to keep members updated during the month and ran various fund raising events.
Employee Nick Jacobs said: “I’m definitely up for doing it again. There’s a tricky couple of weeks when you start where you look stupid, but it’s all worth it by the end.”
For more information visit http://uk.movember.com/.
Walkabout Wimbledon, 74-78 The Broadway, will collect donations all month.
