Meghan Prefontaine may not be able to grow a mustache, but that isn't stopping her from showing support for her "mo bros."
This Movember – a month-long event that sees men grow moustaches of all shapes and sizes to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research – Prefontaine wanted to come up with a facial hair equivalent for her "mo sistas."
And thus the moustache bracelet – the 'Stache – was born.
"As a female, I wanted to participate in Movember but I can't grow a moustache," said Prefontaine, co-owner of Edmonton-based jewelry company Two Good Trends.
"So I brought in my fashion background and thought, what better way than to wear a bracelet that has a moustache on it in order to support prostate cancer. It's fashionable and it's supporting a great cause."
Fifty per cent of the profits from the bracelets are donated to the Canadian Movember campaign.
More than 300 'Stache bracelets have already sold since the beginning of the month, said Prefontaine. Participating stores include Bella Maas boutiques in St. Albert and Sherwood Park, the Michael C. Good & Associates law firm in St. Albert and Legal Motors.
Prefontaine said her other jewelry designs are popular, but the 'Stache bracelets have struck a different chord with customers.
"I think it brought a whole new level of awareness," she explained. "People are really interested and eager to support causes that give back to the community and causes such as prostate cancer that really need awareness."
The bracelets come in red or black and sell for $15.
Mo fundraisers
Prefontaine isn't the only woman sporting a 'stache for Movember. A team at Babble Beauty Bar have also started a fundraising campaign.
The beauty salon held the Rock Your Moustache fundraising evening on Nov. 20, with proceeds donated to Movember.
"We made it a little bit more male-friendly by having events in the evening that men would be attracted to, (such as) poker and scotch tasting," said Maegan Crowley, marketing director for Babble.
As of Friday morning, the team had raised $900 and 20 per cent from all men's services and gift card sales during the month of November will also be donated to charity.
Movember madness doesn't stop there. Other St. Albert business and organizations have lent their support this year, including Sublime Swim and Sunwear, St. Albert Source for Sports, Costco, St. Albert RCMP and St. Albert Firefighters (2130).
Movember began in Australia in 2003 with 30 participants and has since grown to 1.1 million in 22 countries. So far the charity has raised $146.6 million towards men's health programs including prostate cancer research.
