No-shave November event raises awareness

November 1st 2018 began the annual, month-long shaving restrictions volunteers here at USCA.

No-Shave November is an event where volunteers, both young and seasoned, will abstain from shaving their facial hair. They choose to raise awareness by embracing their natural growth, which many cancer patients unfortunately lose.

Also popularly called “Movember” (a clever play on the words mustache and November) this month is to show love for our cancer patients, especially those who suffer from prostate cancer and depression. Prostate cancer is the development of cancer in the prostate gland, which often spreads to other parts of the body.

This year at USCA, 10 volunteers accepted the challenge, including Ahmed Samaha, Vice Chancellor of Student Life & Services, who participates yearly.

Samaha expressed that he has proudly taken part in No-Shave November for a number of years now and owes his dedication to the need of spreading awareness. Raising the fact that we often think of women when the word “cancer” is mentioned, he is passionate about showing the same support and love to for men just as we do for women, and his strength comes from personally knowing someone affected by the disease.

Another participant, PJ Walker, expressed that he decided to participate in No-Shave November for almost the same reason, and he was fueled to do whatever he could because so many fellow students had no idea what No-Shave November was about.

Both men share a calling of wanting to teach others that prostate cancer is the cause of hair loss in men due to chemotherapy. Their calling for awareness also raises funds.

By not shaving for the month, men are encouraged to take the money they would’ve used for grooming and donating to an organization that educates about cancer prevention, aiding those who are fighting the battle, and ultimately to save lives.