Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE – Thirty days have come and gone and for the Times Leader participants in No Shave November, the end of the month couldn’t have gotten here quicker.
At the start of November, 12 men from the office decided to take part in the annual razor-free event which helps to raise awareness and funds for men’s health. It all started when a Chicago-area family lost its patriarch, Matthew Hill, who died from colon cancer in 2007. In 2009, the Hills started No Shave November, their web-based non-profit which has raised more than $2 million for the American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
To help raise awareness, Times Leader staffers Tony Spina, Jim McCabe, John Gordon, Robert Vanderveken, Tom Harper, Mark Jones, Bill O’Boyle, Travis Kellar, Thomas Moriarty, Matt Mattei, Tom Venesky and Russ Hryvnak shaved it all off Nov. 1.
It started out fun for the guys as they shaved their faces (nearly) clean. Some, like circulation director McCabe, shaved away a goatee of more than 20 years. Jim’s liking the full beard though, and said he’ll keep it at least through the cold winter months.
Advertising Director Tony Spina brought a razor to work with him and, after his final photo for the month, quickly put the blade to use.
For Reporter Travis Kellar, who shaved off quite a full beard, life is nearly back to normal. His beard and mustache have grown in significantly.
While the month was filled with laughs and jokes, the guys and their co-workers raised more than $200 for colon cancer prevention. Mark Jones, opinion editor, had people betting against him, but since he lasted the entire month without shaving, people are paying up.
Who do you think ended up with the best beard? Let us know in the online comments, or send us an email at [email protected].
