In the month of November, men and women are working together to participate in Movember. Movember is an event that is designed to raise awareness for men’s health- specifically prostate and testicular cancer- and help to raise awareness for suicide prevention.

Mr. Cunha started this event at Williston five years ago and plans to keep it going for a long time. “The timing is great after the Pink events in October for Breast Cancer Awareness,” he said. “This keeps the discussion going on the men’s side. Mr. Rivenburgh has been a great ally. He brought a great passion for this cause and together we enjoy spreading the message to our entire community that guys need to take care of their health, get screenings, and address mental health issues.”

Many people participate in Movember by growing moustaches. This simple goal of growing the moustache allows people to ask you why you are growing it out and who you are growing it out for.

Williston alum Matt Folger ’16 participated in Movember last year for a personal reason. “I am growing out my moustache for my friend’s father who has been battling prostate cancer for about three years now. I would have never known Movember was a thing if it wasn’t for my friends on the hockey team [at Williston] who encouraged me to join the movement.”

“It’s hard to put into words, but the moustache and the month of Movember help me to spread the message that support is out there for whatever you might be going through, whether it is a physical sickness or mental,” said Mr. Rivenburgh. “It just might be behind a moustache or a pink shirt or that person sitting at the table across the way. I am just trying to be a messenger for that.”

Personally, I grow my moustache out for my father’s best friend, Mike Foti. Mike was battling prostate cancer and was given a twenty percent chance to live at the time. Thankfully, Mike was able to win his battle with cancer and is very thankful people are donating.

“Every time I see something pop up on my Facebook timeline about Movember, I always donate, whether it’s a dollar or one hundred dollars,” said Foti. “The amount does not matter: the meaning behind it does. I am very thankful that people in the past did donate and helped saved my life.”

The Williston boy’s hockey team has created a Movember team page and would love to have people from the Williston community join and help spread awareness. The website is http://us.movember.com/programs/cause. Please join our team and help raise money for a good cause.