They dress up silly. Drink beer. Get their pictures taken.
They don’t do car washes, nor do they hold silent auctions.
They are a small group of about 30 young men in their 20s from across Western Canada, including two from Lumby, who pride themselves on being part of “the most unique fundraiser group out there.”
“Instead of your typical middle-aged, well-off donors, we are all young, struggling-to-make-it-in-the-world individuals,” said Jake Stuchberry, a 2008 graduate of Charles Bloom Secondary, now living in Vernon, who is one of the main organizers of this group.
“We pride ourselves on being one of the only young, fun-loving but community-minded fundraisers around.”
The guys, which also includes Jamie Schenkeveld of Lumby, grow Movember moustaches to help raise money for prostate cancer awareness, then get their pictures taken wearing costumes and showing their furry growth.
It started four years ago when Stuchberry and another buddy grew the Mos, got 12 other friends to take part, then the 14 of them went to Sears in Kelowna, piled into a little photo booth, took pictures and, in Stuchberry’s words, “had a blast.”
“In year two, we wore onesies and got more guys involved, and in year three, we decided to raise money and raised more than $3,600,” said Stuchberry.
“It was 100 per cent personal donations from people in the photos and their friends and family. All expenses to cover photography, venues, costumes, and transportation were 100 per cent out of pocket, and every dollar raised was donated.”
Other themes for the photo shoots – which can be seen at www.familyphotoskelowna.com – have included short shorts, ugly Christmas sweaters and, for 2014, a Where’s Waldo look.
In 2014, things, said Stuchberry, “blew up.”
Thanks to an event in August, where group co-founder Jeff Roberts shaved his down-to-his-butt dreadlocks, which he’s had for nine years (and thanks to a $1,000-plus donation from his mom), the group raised more than $25,000 which will be donated to the high dose rate brachytherapy program for prostate cancer at the Sindi Ahluwalia Hawkins Centre for the Southern Interior in Kelowna.
Donating to the institute hits close to the young men.
While Stuchberry’s grandfather had prostate cancer, so did another of his really close friends.
Angelo Guardini was diagnosed in his early 20s.
“He beat it and people at this institute helped him,” said Stuchberry. “He’s 26 now and has been cancer-free for three years.”
The group of guys are incredibly grateful to their family and friends for helping out what started to be an event just for fun. Now, they’re all giving back to the community.
“It’s huge, right?” said Stuchberry. “Angelo and his entire family can’t believe what we’re doing. It’s fun, having beers with the guys and it’s getting bigger and bigger. It’s very cool.
“We’re constantly brainstorming ideas on what we’re going to do next year.”
As for the actual ‘staches, Stuchberry gives the nod to group member Sean Hamilton, who has had a Duck Dynasty-like beard for years and years.
“He can grow a big one,” laughed Stuchberry, who wasn’t overly complimentary of his own lip growth.
“I struggle but it comes in good enough,” said Stuchberry.
The group also has a page on the B.C. Cancer Foundation website at http://donate.bccancerfoundation.com/goto/family if you would like to find out more information.
