One day of facial hair humiliation: $5.
Raising awareness for prostate cancer: priceless.
That’s the thought that consoled first-year MD student Ricardo Viltakis after the tonsorial tragedy he suffered, when his friend and classmate Lara “Queen Larry” Pereira paid five bucks to style his ‘stache at the Aesculapian Society’s Movember shave-off event Nov. 18.
“I guess people can get more awareness out of it,” he said, surveying the wreckage of his facial hair. “But it was the most embarrassment I’ve ever gotten for five dollars.”
Viltakis was among a group of nine MD students and one faculty member who emerged from the shave-off with their beards butchered, but their pride intact.
“It’s a good cause, and I’ve known a few people with prostate cancer,” said Dr. Andrew Seely, associate professor of surgery, who participated at the request of his student Emma Grigor, VP philanthropy of the Aesculapian Society (ASoc), who co-ordinated the event.
The shave-off was one of several Movember events organized by ASoc this month to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Canada Network (PCCN) Ottawa. PCCN Ottawa is a charity that provides support for men diagnosed with prostate cancer and raises funds for local research and treatment initiatives.
“It’s really encouraging to see this group of young, soon-to-be medical professionals supporting men’s health and prostate cancer in particular,” said PCCN Ottawa volunteer Terry Day, who attended the event.
Grigor said the shave-off raised approximately $100, bringing the total raised by ASoc’s Movember fundraising initiative to over $800. Movember is a Canada-wide movement to raise funds and awareness about men’s health during the month of November.
Those who wish to help ASoc reach or exceed its Movember fundraising goal of $1000 can donate through their Facebook page.
See more photos from the shave-off.
