Thorold Professional Firefighters Association looks back at a successful fundraiser during the month of November - dubbed 'Movember,' to bring awareness to men's health.
The association raised a total of $7,560, far surpassing what the organization had hoped for at the beginning of the month.
"We aimed for $1,000, and we made that during the first day alone. Then it kind of kept going," said president Ryan Weicker to Thorold News.
The members pushed the donation link on their social media pages, and a large group of the donors came from their closest circle of friends and family members.
The campaign trademark is to grow a mustache for the entire month - a challenge the force took on with enthusiasm.
But now, as of December 1, only two members of the association still have theirs, Weicker reveals.
"All of the wives seem quite happy that December is coming and that we're losing them. I know my wife was. Maybe they are the biggest heroes that deserve the 'thank you' in all of this."
Weicker said the cause is especially close at heart for him and his fellow firefighters, who live with a greater risk of some of the common male cancers, due to their exposures in the line of duty.
"It's important for us to give back, and we want to say a big thank you to the community for donating. Next year we are going to aim for $10,000," Weicker said.
This year it was Toronto Firefighters that ended up in the top of the fire associations that participated in the fundraiser, racking up over $32,000.
