By the end of November, 24 members of the Andover community will sport full mustaches as part of “Movember,” an international, month-long, mustache-growing charity event that aims to raise funds to support prostate and testicular cancer initiatives and awareness.
Scott Hoenig, Instructor in Mathematics, originally registered 16 faculty members as the “PA-stacios,” Andover’s Movember team, on the national Movember website, where they have been posting photos of their growing mustaches.
The PA-stacios have raised $1,075 so far, according to the team’s page on the Movember website. Donors support the cause by sponsoring individual team members or the entire team.
“In late September, I shot out an e-mail to a bunch of guys on campus, and [they] got back to me within half an hour, somewhere around eight or nine responses, that they were in. Over the next few days it got up to 20 people, which has since steadily grown,” said Hoenig. “It was a bigger response and participation than I anticipated.”
Hoenig participated in Movember last year and decided to organize a group to participate on campus this year.
“Last year, a friend from college asked me if I wanted to be part of his Movember team. I had no idea what it was. It seemed like just a bunch of guys growing mustaches,” said Hoenig.
“When I learned more about [Movember] and the… cancer research organizations they fund, it just added a piece to [the experience], because I was already growing the mustache, having never done it before. It was also a bonus that in addition to raising awareness for these issues, we could raise money for these organizations,” he continued.
Hoenig and his team successfully went “shave-free” last November and raised a total of $2,700, all of which went to the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Livestrong Foundation.
“[People on campus] came up to me and asked me why I was growing a mustache, and that’s what started the conversation about why I was doing it,” said Hoenig. “I’m getting to know some other people I didn’t know going into this–a couple of new faculty members [and] spouses–so another piece of this is camaraderie.”
Mark Cutler, Instructor in Spanish and a member of the PA-stacios, wanted to participate in Movember this year after seeing Hoenig’s efforts last fall.
“Mr. Hoenig and I are good friends, and last year he participated and inspired me. I thought it would be fun to join him this year…It’s a fun opportunity for one thing–to change the way you look. But if we can also raise money and can get people talking about [prostate and testicular cancer], then it’s an opportunity to raise awareness about something that isn’t often talked about,” said Cutler.
“The mustache on my face is either a talking point or a billboard. People will go up to me and ask, ‘So I notice you’re growing some facial hair. What’s that all about?’ and then that prompts me to tell them about [Movember],” Cutler added.
Cutler, who is a house counselor in Fuess House, said that he has spread the word about Movember to other adults and students on campus.
“[The event] is essentially an opportunity for camaraderie. In Fuess House the other night, we had a fashion show for our mustaches and named it a ’stache-on show,” said Cutler.
**_Members of PA-Stacios: _**
– Scott Hoenig, Instructor in Math
– Mark Cutler, Instructor in Spanish
– Chris Capano, Director of Student Activities
– Cesar Dominique Moreno, Instructor in Spanish
– Brian Faulk ’00, Instructor in Chemistry
– Rich Gorham, Head Coach of Wrestling
– Kevin Graber, Associate Dean of Admission
– Carlos Hoyt, Associate Dean of Students
– Dale Hurley, Instructor in Math
– Corbin Lang, Instructor in Math
– Matt Lisa, Instructor in Math
– Jeffrey Marzluft, Associate Director at the OWHL
– Temba Maqubela, Dean of Faculty
– Leon Modeste, Head Coach of Varsity Football
– Tedd Parker, Instructor in History and Social Sciences
– Jeffrey Phaneuf, former Instructor in History
– Tim Potts, husband of Monique Cueto-Potts, Director of Community Service
– Allen Scheier, Resident Scholar in Math
– Christopher Shaw, Instructor in History and Social Science
– Ken Shows, Associate Director of College Counseling
– Steve Silversides, Associate Director of College Counseling
– Donald Slater, Museum Educator at the Peabody
– Ryan Wheeler, Director of the Peabody
– Jason York, husband of Amy Patel, Medical Director
