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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, November 4, 2011 · 8 Campbell shaved his 'stache for Movember By Nathan Howes OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF This will be a Movember to remember for Bruce Campbell -- he's growing a new moustache for the first time in 33 years. Campbell, president of Campbell and Lee Investment, had been growing the `stache since 1978, a year after he wed. Those who have known the Oakville resident a long time -- including his wife and co-workers ­ were `shocked' when the 55-year-old shaved it off the other day to start anew for a good cause. During November, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men's faces globally. Men raise vital funds and awareness for men's health, specifically prostate cancer. "My wife said, `Oh you look younger.' The last time she saw me without it, I was 21 or 22 years old. It was completely dark then too, little bit red, as opposed to mostly grey now," said Campbell. "It's just so different without it and even my staff, when they came in, were pretty (shocked). "The two ladies that do our back office stuff, I've known both of them -- one for 20 years and one for 35 years -- and they've never seen me without it. They must have thought somebody new had just started," he added. This is the first time Campbell has participated in Movember. He and three other male employees at "I'm getting checked for it every year now. I think solely in the last couple of years I realized that I'm in the age group who could be at risk." Bruce Campbell, Movember participant ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER GROWING PAINS: Bruce Campbell shaved his moustache for the first time since 1978 and is re-growing it for "Movember" this month, to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer. the firm are growing new soup-strainers to raise money, but also to have fun, he said. "They were talking around the office that we should do (this) because I've had this long-term mustache and we have a young fella here at work who doesn't have one and it would be a neat idea," said Campbell. "Our investment management guys (are) always thinking about contests, (so) maybe we will get clients to vote and post the pictures." But Campbell has other reasons to participate as well -- his mother passed away from a different form of cancer, and he is now of the age when males are most susceptible to prostate cancer. He is of the age "I'm getting checked for it every year now. I think solely in the last couple of years I realized that I'm in the age group who could be at risk. Raising awareness was a good thing that way too," said Campbell. What made Campbell grow a `stache over three decades ago can be traced back to when he was a teenager, after he got hit in the mouth with a baseball. He wanted to cover up the scar on his lip. Once he had it, it evolved over time and became a part of who he was. It remained intact all these years because he never really looked at himself in the mirror, he said. "When you're younger, you grow it and nobody at the time said stop or anything. The reaction I've been getting now is, `Oh my god, I know you for your mustache. I can't believe you shaved it off,'" said Campbell. "When I described myself, I would forget to say I had a mustache. I look at myself now and it doesn't look like me." He expects to have a "light moustache" again in a few weeks, but it won't start coming in thick again for another couple of months. Campbell was a bit hesitant to shave it at Anyone interested in volunteering for the Oakville Santa Claus Parade please come to a meeting SANTA'S ' ELVES MEETING FOR ALL first, but once he told people what the initiative was about, he knew he had to go through with it. "Just about everybody knew I was going to do it, so when the time came, I would have less hesitation. If I had told no one, maybe I would have chickened out. This way I couldn't," said Campbell. "I got the scissors and started cutting before I could change my mind. My lip was sore for a while because it hasn't been shaven since August 1978." His son has yet to see his `stache-less' father, and will likely be just as shocked as his mother and coworkers. "One of my sons lives in Fort McMurray (Alberta). I'm picking him up at the airport tonight (Nov. 1) and I haven't even told him. I want to see how long it will take him to notice. He's probably going to go, `Holy moly,'" said Campbell. Movember is barely underway, and Campbell and his coworkers have managed to drum up over $2,400 in online donations as of Nov. 3. "I think it's going to be a small part, but I would like to see if we could raise $5,000, which was more than what we thought when I started this. It would be a bonus," said Campbell. If all goes well, and so far it looks promising, Campbell may cut his moustache again next Movember. He may pose a challenge to other investment firms in the community as a friendly competition to try to double the amount from this year. How to help "Everyone I've sent an e-mail to has sent me something back, which is why I think it's going to be easy to get a few thousand (dollars). Already that's made it worthwhile for the cause. "Every little bit helps for cancer (research)." Donations to Campbell can be made at http://ca.movember.com/mospace/1355090. For more information on Movember, visit http://ca.movember.com/. Nathan Howes can be reached at howesna@sheridanc.on.ca or follow him on Twitter at: @HowesNathan. Wednesday, y November 9th 6:30 pm registration, 7:00 pm start Town of Oakville, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville (Trafalgar Rd. @ White Oaks Blvd.) in the South Atrium ADULT AND STUDENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR: Traffi f c & Parade Marshalling Costumed Characters and Escorts (students will receive volunteer hours) Parade takes place on Saturday, November 19th at 9:00 am www.oakvillesantaclausparade.ca Information: