Alberta's future physicians and dentists are already taking their health care role very seriously, with a fun twist.
Fifty students in the second-year class at the U of A's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry are sporting moustaches, like many men across the city, in support of Movember. What makes them stand out is the fact they've raised over $20,000 as a team for the fundraising campaign which supports prostate cancer research, awareness, and new this year, men's mental health. That number puts them in the lead for the top fundraising team in Canada.
"It's gone completely beyond what I even imagined at the beginning of the month," said Vikram Karnik, a second year medical student who organized his class' team. "I'm so happy we can raise this much money for prostate cancer and men's mental health. Being future health care professionals we wanted to do something that was both fun and for a good cause."
Last year the group raised $7900 and Karnik attributes this year's success to persistence, with people going after sources they wouldn't have last year. They're also getting help from the 'Mo' sisters in their class who organized a fundraising bar night, a bake sale, and they designed and made tee-shirts, as well as crocheted coffee sleeves.
The dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Douglas Miller, couldn't be more impressed with the students' efforts.
"This is something we as a faculty should be very proud of," said Miller. "This speaks volumes to the character of the students going through our medical and dental programs."
In honour of their achievement, Miller and colleagues from his executive shaved off some of the moutaches of the students. For more from the event, check out this video.