Published on 01 December 2021
A group of Paramedic Science students have raised more than £500 after signing up for the Movember challenge and growing some impressive facial fur.
The University of Sunderland super six are delighted with the total, £567, as they dedicated their efforts to grow the most impressive moustache for the global charity throughout November, set up to raise funds and awareness of men’s health issues.
Since 2003 the Movember Foundation charity has made a difference in areas such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention, raising more than £440m to help fund men’s health projects.
Kyle Peebles sparked the idea among his fellow first-year paramedic colleagues - Lewis Eke, Phil Martin, Aaron Hobday, James Higgins and Ethan Kehoe - to join in Movember, having had his own scare with testicular cancer five years ago.
The 25-year-old, from Gateshead, said: “I just want to thank everyone who got involved, from the lads who grew the MOs to the people who bought tickets for the bonus balls and donated money. You all don’t understand how much it means to us lads!”
He added: “I have got involved in Movember ever since my own health scare, thankfully I was all cleared, but still wanted to raise awareness.
“My fellow students were all really keen, it’s such a great cause, and really important to highlight the issues.”
Kyle, who is an emergency care assistant with the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) joined the University of Sunderland to further his career and boost his skills.
He added: “We’re all enjoying the programme and get on so well since starting; Movember was just a great way to bring us all closer together and get to know one another a bit more.
Mark Willis, Programme Leader for Paramedic Science and Out of Hospital Care at the University of Sunderland, said: “This is a fantastic effort by all those who are taking part in raising awareness and funds to this great cause. We are all very proud of them and their efforts.”