By Casey Holder/photo editor
The month of November is not about awareness for one TR Campus student so much as it is about vengeance.
“Prostate cancer tried to kill my pa. This isn’t charity. This is revenge,” has been the mantra of James Jardine as he begins to tackle the disease that will kill approximately 32,000 men this year.
Fun-loving brothers James and Kolin Jardine, a NE Campus student, will be the first to tell you that their late father’s battle with prostate cancer was anything but.
“You lose your butthole for a while,” James Jardine said. “Something like that changes people.”
Although the cancer was not the direct cause of their father’s death, it was a major complication leading into it.
Movember, a phenomenon that originated in Australia and has since grown worldwide, is a movement where men grow out their moustaches during the month of November to increase awareness on men’s health issues, namely prostate cancer. In 2008, the movement officially came to the U.S. and can be found at us.movember.com.
“It’s fun, but I had no idea how big it could be,” said Rachel Sweet, a close friend of the Jardines.
The Jardine brothers began their campaign against the disease in 2008 with a charity moustache pageant held at a small live-music venue, Rubber Gloves in Denton. Spearheaded by James Jardine, the event collected $700 for the cause and featured live DJs, drinks and a photo booth.
“The most rational way to make money is to just party,” James Jardine said.
And a party he has planned. The 2010 Fort Worth Modeo (moustache plus rodeo) and moustache pageant will open doors at 7 p.m. with the first band performing at 8 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Where House in Fort Worth. The evening features performances by local bands Uptown Bums, On After Dark, White Mountain and Giant Dog from Austin.
The event also includes an open bar, photo booth and grand Moustache Pageant. Patrons will pay at the door, and all proceeds will go directly to Movember Worldwide, which then splits the donations between Livestrong and the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
James Jardine described the event.
“A lot of work to execute an evening to generate $3,000 to $5,000 to go directly to research to benefit the cure.”
Jardine and the Modeo team aren’t limiting themselves to this one evening to attain such a goal. Planned throughout Movember are many small fundraisers including a moustache themed go-kart grand prix and a regular Monday meeting held 9 p.m. at Buffalo Bros. Pizza in Fort Worth.
Participants are encouraged to bring their moustaches.
To find out more or to donate to the Fort Worth Modeo, visit www.ftw-modeo.blogspot.com.
