The school’s male teachers are putting their razors away this month to raise funds to fight against prostate cancer.
English teacher Robert MacFarland, who has prostate cancer, initiated the “No Shave November” challenge. He said he plans to sell ballots to students and staff at the end of the month to vote for the best beard. Ballots will be $1 for staff and 50 cents for students.
Contest categories include:
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Best overall beard
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Best new beard
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Best existing beard
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Worst beard
Each category will have a winner, MacFarland said.
Participating staff members so far include MacFarland, science teachers Craig Bonnington, Fred Pellerito and Bruce Shepard, math teacher Vernon Burden, para-professional Alen Lowen and social studies teachers Andrew Green and Richard Crist.
Shepard, said, “I think I might win worst beard.”
One in six males will become victims of prostate cancer, according to American Cancer Society statistics. Early detection is vital to prevent cancer deaths and is available through a simple blood test.
The money raised will be used to pay for this test for men without health care, MacFarland said.
Senior Jalen Smith said, “I think this contest is pretty cool, and it’s awesome that people are supporting the Cancer Foundation because they need as much help as they can get.”
Sophomore Lyric Moss said, “I think it will be a good experiment, and they will make a lot of money from it.”