Say goodbye to the moustaches at City Hall - at least, until next November.
City officials, including Mayor Ian Hamilton, had joined in the Movember challenge to raise money for prostate cancer research with a goal to raise $3000.
With enthusiastic help from the public, that goal has been reached. According to totals posted Monday at their website at http://ca.movember.com/team/651073, the City Hall team had raised $3,021.
Matthew Hartney, finance director and captain of the City's team, led the way in donations with $989, followed by City Manager Jim Toye at $606 and Hamilton at $534. Deputy Fire Chief Brian Wilson was fourth at $394 and Jerry Wintonyk raised $194, followed by money raised by another six team members. A $150 donation was pledged to the team as a whole.
With the $3,000 goal met, all 11 members of the City team are now finally able to shave off their 'staches, including Hartney who had pledged to be the "last moustache standing" if their target was not reached by Dec. 1. The team had been short by about $200 Friday afternoon, but some late donations put them over the top.
"Overall, it's been really impressive," said Hartney of the participation. He noted their team even had a female participant, Trinity Rae, who helped raise money for the team as well by posting a picture of herself with a fake moustache on the team's site.
Other participants on the City's Movember team included Director of Business Development Denis Lavertu, City Planner Tim LaFreniere, Lars Ketilson, Gordon Whitton and Lloyd Bullerwell.
The City's efforts were touted as a way to raise money and awareness and also to have fun. There was even a video montage made about the moustache Wilson grew that was posted by a fan.
"It was a real team effort, it was excellent. It was neat to have the city involved in this," said Hartney, who nas had family members battle cancer and survive.
The City team's efforts were one of many going on in the community and across the country to raise money for Prostate Cancer Canada. The money was raised through the ca.movember.com website, where 23,681 teams set up to raise money for prostate cancer. The City team, as of Monday, ranked No 2,181 in all of Canada.
"The website and the way they set this up around the globe is absolutely incredible," said Hartney. People could donate with their credit card online and receive an official tax receipt right away.
"Canada has really bought on to the initiative and it's made a great difference," he said.
Other city members participated in broader Movember efforts in the Battlefords organized by Derek Schmidt of Bill and Don's Mens Wear, which saw high levels of participation. Also participating prominently in Movember efforts in the community was former longtime Battleford councillor Garth Walls of Battlefords and District Co-op Pharmacy, whose moustache, a fixture for 37 years, was shaved off Friday.
