Paul D. Shinkman, wtop.com
WASHINGTON — A lot has happened in the last two weeks of this moustache fundraiser. My Movember “mo” has become visible to the naked eye, and I’ve been getting a lot of reaction to it.
Not all of it has been flattering.
Here is a smattering of what I’ve confronted this month:
“You come to an interview about moustaches without one?” (Rep. Roscoe Bartlett, R-Md.)
(Long pause) “You know I support you in everything you do, but I do have my limits.” (I appreciate that, sweetie)
“When do you shave that thing off your face?” (Clerk at an Eastern Market liquor store)
“Intention is everything.” (Thanks, Mom)
“This whole month I thought I was always looking at you in poor lighting, but that’s a moustache, right?” (This guy signs my paychecks, so it’s whatever he wants it to be.)
“I’m glad to know its not only my facial follicles that grow so slow.” (Strong words from a fellow Mo)
“Dude, nice mo.” (Flying Dog Brewery sales manager)
“I’m so glad I hired Paul to do these quality, hard-hitting, investigative stories. Paul is a fair-haired boy, so I had my doubts about his ability to pull off a man’s style moustache. But when colleagues started looking at him funny, and women began walking in the opposite direction — it was clearly working its magic.” (Thanks, boss)
The discomfort I’ve been dealt from the invariable sideways looks all gave way Tuesday night when I attended the Team D.C. Mo culminating raffle and fundraiser at Meridian Pint, sponsored by Flying Dog. Dozens of moustachioed mo “Bros” and Sistas” showed up to reflect on a month of what one described as “facial caterpillars.”
Check out photos of the parade of facial hair in the gallery at right and by following this link.
In addition to the individual funds each participant or group raised, the benefit collected an additional $1,665. They gave out prizes for the best moustache, fake moustache, costume and group, as well as crowning Mr. and Mrs. Movember.
It’s all been worth it, if only through the money many WTOP listeners generously donated. The Washington, D.C. Network raised over $32,000 as a part of the more than $11 million raised by Movember participants in the U.S.
Almost $90 million has been raised worldwide to “change the face of men’s health.”
And it isn’t too late to get involved! Movember is accepting donations through Wednesday.
I’m growing my moustache in remembrance of my father to raise funds and awareness for men’s health, particularly prostate cancer. Check out my Movember profile page here. Please consider donating to this cause.
Learn more here:
- It’s beginning to look a lot like ‘Movember’
- Mournal Entry #1: Why I’m growing a moustache for ‘Movember’
- Mournal Entry #2: Why can’t I grow a moustache?
- Mournal Entry #3: Rebellion, ‘bull-riding’ key to bringing a ‘stache to The Hill
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(Copyright 2011 by WTOP. All Rights Reserved.)
