WTPD raising awareness for men’s health with ‘Movember’ event
More Washington Township police officers than normal may be sporting a moustache this November — and it’s all in the name of charity.
“Movember,” as it’s commonly called, is a month-long event when men grow out moustaches in an effort to raise awareness to health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, suicide and mental health.
Washington Township Chief of Police Pat Gurcsik said that this is the second year his department is participating in Movember, citing a 95 percent participation rate last year.
“All the officers that participated last year donated $25,” he said. “We’re encouraging all the officers to get involved. We’re trying to increase early cancer detection and diagnosis.”
Gurcsik noted the officers are having fun growing out moustaches, stating they have a contest for best platoon, best moustache and worst moustache. He said the female officers serve as judges.
While the officers try to keep it light-hearted, Gurcsik doesn’t forget the message that Movember sends. Men’s health, such as prostate cancer detection, is something that hits close to home for him.
“It’s important to me — my brother-in-law had prostate cancer,” Gurcsik said. “It’s an important cause for me. I have five brothers and two sons. To raise funds for men’s health, it’s a no-brainer for us to participate.
“It’s good for morale too, we’re competitive,” he added. “Residents take notice when they see an officer that’s more scruffy than usual. They usually have to be clean shaven.”
The in-house Movember contest fits right into Gurcsik’s ideology of community caretaking. Where a typical Movember fundraiser will go toward funding men’s health projects around the world, Gurcsik wanted to keep it as local as possible.
“Last year we donated to a family whose son had Osteosarcoma,” Gurcsik said.
Osteosarcoma is a rare form of bone cancer. WTPD donated $2,000 to the aforementioned family.
The WTPD hasn’t chosen a recipient for the 2018 fundraiser.
According to the Movember website, www.Movember.com, they have funded 1,200 men’s health projects since its inception in 2003. A statistic from 2015 says that they have raised more than $700 million dollars since 2003.
At the end of the day, the officer’s like to keep it easygoing while working toward a greater goal.
“We encourage no cheating,” Gurcsik said of the competition. “Shave on Halloween and not again until the end of the month.”
For those interested in learning more about Movember, visit the website. To donate to the Washington Township Police Department’s fundraiser, call the chief’s office at (856) 589–6664.
