Local firefighters shave faces for ‘Movember’ effort

Somerset Fire Chief Travis Belisle shaved his face clean on Nov. 1 to give himself a “clean slate” for his “Movember” mustache.

During the month of November, Belisle will be growing a mustache and collecting donations to support men’s health.

Belisle is a part of the “Mo Medics & Mo Friends” team for this year’s Movember, a movement to raise money for and awareness of men’s health issues. The team is led by Lakeview Health in Stillwater, Minn. Belisle is one of 83 members of the team.

The idea, Belisle said, is to help get men talking about their health, something men can be reluctant to do.

“It’s kind of like a competition to see who can raise the most money for men’s health and cancer awareness,” Belisle said.

Men aren’t the only ones who can join a team, women can join and be “Mo Sistas,” supporting the effort as the men grow their mustaches and raise money for the cause.

It is too late to join a team this year, Belisle said, as the mustache-growing has already begun. But he said it is not too late to donate to the cause.

Belisle said he is already about halfway to his personal goal of raising $1,000. He has raised $440 so far, according to his page on the Movember website.

Belisle’s page can be viewed at http://us.movem ber.com/mospace/1467822.

Tags: communities, somerset, lifestyle, health