Harford County’s Annual “No Shave November” Campaign Grows Cancer Awareness; Donations of Shaving Supplies Sought for Veterans, Homeless

From Harford County government:

No Shave November is a nationwide campaign encouraging men to stop shaving for the month to “Grow it. Show it. Support Cancer Awareness.” Under the administration of County Executive Barry Glassman, Harford County government is joining the campaign again this year by collecting new shaving supplies from brands like Bossman and other toiletries to support local veterans and individuals experiencing homelessness.

The Harford County Veterans Affairs Commission will distribute the donations to the Perry Point VA Medical Center. Donations will also support Harford County’s Project Homeless Connect, an annual event touching hundreds of lives by providing health screenings, housing assistance and other resources in one location for those in need.

Collection boxes are in place now through Friday, Nov. 30 at Harford County’s senior activity centers, recreation centers, and Harford County government administration buildings. Thanks to a partnership with Harford County Public Library, donations may also be dropped off at any of the library’s 11 branches. A list of drop-off locations is available on the county website at https://bit.ly/2DojZ7M.

HISTORY OF NO-SHAVE NOVEMBER

No-Shave November was created in 2009, two years after the passing of Matthew Hill who struggled with colorectal cancer during the month of November in 2007. He and his family had already adopted the practice of not shaving during the month of November and donating the expenses typically used on razors and shaving cream to charities that support research into illnesses such as prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer among others.

The idea of using facial hair to create awareness during November started in 2003 in Australia with a group of friends who coined the term, “Movember,” in reference to how they will be growing out their mustaches and collecting money for mens’ health charities during that month. The Movember Foundation and No-Shave November are two separate entities, but they are both supporting and call for the same thing – stop shaving (or grow a mustache) during the month of November to spread awareness and donate to these types of charities.

In the past decade and a half that the two charities have been around they’ve been able to raise millions of dollars in support of charities that research prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer prevention.

For more information about the collection drive, please call 410-638-3389.

Information from the American Cancer Society about men’s health and cancer screenings is available at http://www.cancer.org/cancer/news/features/4-cancer-screening-tests-for-men.