The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to improving men’s health by fundraising to support projects combating prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. This past November, St. Gabriel the Archangel School participated in “Movember” to support the foundation in raising awareness for men’s health. A facial hair growing/fundraising challenge was issued by four male St. Gabriel teachers to encourage the school community to raise awareness and support initiatives to support men’s health issues. Two distinct Movember teams within the school competed to raise funds for the foundation, culminating in a pie-throwing event where students had a chance to “pie” a teacher from the team that raised the least money. Throughout the month, students and fellow staff members were encouraged to join these teams and assist in the raising of money and awareness for men’s health issues.
St. Gabriel’s Movember campaign was highly successful right out of the gate. Within the first three weeks, both staff and students donated money generously. Donations were also given from friends, family and the generous community of Chestermere in person and through social media. The fundraising effort for men’s health was capped off with the pie throwing event at the school, where students paid to throw a pie in the facial-haired face of the teacher of their choice. Not only did the team with less funds raised participate, all teachers generously offered to participate in the pie-throwing lunch-hour to support the fundraising efforts of the Movember Foundation. Not surprisingly, students were more than willing to donate a few dollars in exchange for “pie-ing” their teachers. By the end of this past “Movember” month, students and staff at St. Gabriel the Archangel, with the help of the community, was able to raise $5,264 in support of the Movember Foundation and to raise awareness of men’s health issues. Thank you to all staff, students, parents, family and friends who generously donated to support this year’s St. Gabriel Movember challenge.
