Mick mcgrath launches decembeard for mens cancer alliance

Leinster winger Mick McGrath joined Micheal Sheridan of the Men’s Cancer Alliance to launch 'Decembeard' in Dublin.

With bowel cancer projected to increase by over 120% by 2040 and with over 2,500 new cases of bowel cancer diagnosed each year,  Men’s Cancer Alliance launches Decembeard, a new month long initiative to raise funds and create awareness of bowel cancer amongst men.  This international campaign which also runs in England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and Canada will take place for the month of December and will encourage men to ditch the razor and grow a beard in the run up to the festive season.

It is hoped that Irish men will embrace this initiative along with the main man, Mr Claus who sports one of the most famous beards in the world, and raise much needed funds by seeking sponsorship from friends and family to grow a beard this December. 

Decembeard is proud to “borrow the bristles” of Leinster winger Mick McGrath who comments: “My grandfather was diagnosed with bowel cancer some years ago and so I am happy to support a campaign that creates awareness of this disease and encourages men to look after their health”

The Men’s Cancer Alliance (MCA), the charity behind Blue September which includes the Mater Foundation, Mercy Hospital Foundation and Cancer Care West was launched earlier this year with the aim of creating awareness about men’s cancers and the treatments and supports available. The MCA also aims to raise funds to create and maintain a number of men’s cancer support initiatives throughout the country. 

Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in men. On average in Ireland over 2,436 new cases of bowel cancer are diagnosed every year. Cases of bowel cancer are projected to increase by 120%-130% between 2010 and 2040* with the total number of new invasive cancer cases (including non-melanoma skin cancer) projected to increase by 84% for females and 107% for males between 2010 and 2040.  However in 90% of cases, if diagnosed early, bowel cancer can be successfully treated.

 

Micheal Sheridan, chief executive of The Mercy Hospital Foundation and spokesperson for MCA says: “No man should die unnecessarily from cancer and initiatives like Decembeard create a platform for men to discuss these topics and hopefully encourage them to visit their GP when they feel something is not right’

 

Facts about bristles

Beards have a strong presence throughout history with attitudes towards beards varying over time. The ancient Egyptians associated beards with wealth and power; often beards were dyed and sometimes plaited with golden threads. In India beards represented dignity and wisdom. During the Middle Ages a beard showed signs of a knight’s honour and nobility. The Renaissance saw a turn in attitude towards the beard. The clean shaven look was more popular. Henry VIII even made having a beard a taxable offence even though he himself had a beard. Around the 1850’s the beard was back with a bang. This time the beard was grown by many world leaders, Napoleon III and Abraham Lincoln to name a few. Decembeard is asking Irish men take on this hairy initiative along with Santa Claus, Dr Zeus, Mr. Miyagi or even Mr.T’s and register at  HYPERLINK 'http://www.menscancer.ie/decembeard' www.menscancer.ie/decembeard