Movember is a charity that was founded in 2003 with the aim of confronting the three main causes of premature deaths in men. Suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer are those causes. Since its inception Movember has funded more than 1,250 men’s health projects around the world, challenging the status quo, shaking up men’s health research and transforming the way health services reach and support men. Funds are collected through sponsorship raised by those growing moustaches during the month of November and by such means as sponsored walks by supportive wives and girlfriends.
Sam Rolfe is a local businessman who has been a regular first team player at Thanet Wanderers for some years. This is his account of why he chose to get involved with Movember this year and form a team of fellow Wanderers to raise funds for the charity.
“In September last year my Dad Joe was diagnosed with prostate cancer. I think the thing that got to me the most about it wasn't the fact that someone so close to me had been diagnosed with cancer, but that the only reason he had gone for a check up was as a result of talking to a friend on the beach who was having treatment for prostate cancer. Whilst talking to him about what he was going through, he told my dad that he should get a check up even though he was symptom free, solely because they are of similar ages. As you can imagine it came as a bit of a shock when he found out that he was also in the same boat as his friend. Fortunately, he was lucky enough and fit enough that the surgery went well and he has been given the all clear so far. Since going through this my dad has been made aware of some staggering statistics for just how many men across the world are affected by this disease. So for me, the fact that this type of cancer can be occurring in our bodies with absolutely no symptoms, or even easy symptoms to miss or ignore, is the part that worries me the most. Because of this I decided that I would do Movember this year. It has happened to coincide with the fact that our rugby coach, Mike Pond, has also been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is currently undergoing the same procedure as my dad had. The Movember charity undertakes much more than just raising money for this cause, it also raises awareness for men’s health in general. The male sex can be terrible for ignoring issues, or even for just being too 'manly' to chat to someone about worrying issues. A team of Thanet Wanderers have been growing our moustaches to raise money for this cause. Its been a simple and fun thing to do to raise awareness.
As a rugby club anything silly draws attention as everyone in the club is always game for a laugh, so its the perfect thing to do for us all to laugh light-heartedly at each others awful moustaches and also raise a lot of money and awareness at the same time. At the close of November we have raised £1586 which is a fantastic effort by everyone involved. Donation pages remain open and if people want to keep their moustaches going or undertake other fundraising efforts this is a year round way to raise funding. Please remember early diagnosis can help beat Prostate Cancer”.
Photo Collage of the team courtesy of Andy Bull (L-R)
Top Row: Will Craven, Warren Riddell-Broomfield, Tom Walton, Tom Stevens, Adam Gaddes.
Middle Row: Team Captain Sam Rolfe
Bottom Row: Jason Deacon, Nick Spencer, Ollie Cackett, Richard Case, Carl Hill
More details of the Movember charity may be found on https://uk.movember.com/team/2375027?
02 December 2020
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