'Movember' means mustaches for Mason baseball

Baseball seniors Ryan Pfaeffle and Brig Tison (pictured above) have brought the Movember movement to Mason, which is an annual program that forces men to grow mustaches to raise funds and awareness for men's health (Photo courtesy of George Mason baseball).

Just picture 34 guys emerging from the dugout, all rocking their green and gold uniforms, matching black cleats, and sporting stellar mustaches.

Ryan Pfaeffle and Brig Tison, both seniors on the George Mason baseball team, have initiated efforts to grow mustaches in order to raise money for men’s health, in a program that is know as Movember. They plan to have their entire team joining them in their fundraising labors.

“This is a very easy way to actually get involved, and it’s a fun way for us, walking around seeing our team all with mustaches,” Tison said.

Movember is a global organization that encourages men to grow their Mo’s every November to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. They are partners with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Lance Armstrong’s foundation, LiveStrong. According to the Movember website, the global campaign raised $US 80.7 million in 2010 alone.

On November 1, all participants, known as Mo Bros, must start with a clean shave, and must remain clean shaven everywhere except for the location between the mouth and nose.

“You have to donate your upper lip to men’s health,” Pfaeffle said.

Many people are familiar with “no-shave November,” which is a friendly time in which many young fellows go an entire month without shaving, but Movember goes further to actually promote knowledge about men’s health-related issues. Whereas cancers that affect women, such as breast cancer, are more highly publicized and marketable, the mainstream media often forgets about prostate and testicular cancers.

Pfaeffle and Tison are not simply stopping with the Mason baseball team, however. They are on a mission to spread the word around the university and beyond. Within the Movember website, they have created a team known as the East Coast Bros. Anybody can join the team that wishes to grow out their Mo. They hope to raise $10,000 by the end of November.

“I knew once I got everyone on board, not only would it be fun and something for us to bond over, we’d be able to make thousands of dollars,” Pfaeffle said.

The captain of the East Coast Bros team is Matt Pfaeffle, brother of Ryan. Matt did Movember last year and was able to raise $10,000 for the cause, and this year has pulled the Mason baseball team into the effort.

“After my brother did it, after how highly he spoke of it, the fun he had, and the amount of money he raised,” Pfaeffle said, “it seemed like something where I was in a position being on the baseball team, being in school, and with the athletic program, where I already had such a big circle around me and could get so many people involved.”

As members of the baseball team, Pfaeffle and Tison are in a position to make a difference. Last season, Pfaeffle, a starting pitcher for the Patriots, led the team in innings pitched. Also, Tison led the nation in hits for most of the season and put together a record-setting 27-game hitting streak.

They are looking to get the entire athletic department behind the movement, and are hoping for donations from each team. They are currently looking to get the whole CAA involved as well.

In addition to asking for donations, they are planning on selling Movember koozies, bracelets, and are setting up a booth at the first men’s home basketball game on November 11.  

“I’m going to raise $2,000 myself,” Tison said.

At the end of the event, there will be a Mo Party at Icons Sports Lounge in Fairfax, giving all of the Mo Bros a chance to show off their new mustaches. The Movember organization also throws Gala Parties at the end of every November in most of the major cities across the world, including Washington, D.C.

Click here to access the East Coast Bros page, or follow them on Twitter at EastCoast_Bros.