Ottawa Citizen

Movember — not just for men anymore

Ottawa women create calendar, hold 5K walk to raise funds for men’s health initiative­s

- JESSICA ROSE

Move over, fellas, the ladies want in on the fun, too. The “Socialista­s” are jumping on the bandwagon to raise funds for Movember and men’s cancers.

The group, made up of 12 area women led by Joelle Hamilton, includes a firefighte­r, two entreprene­urs, two doctors, a high school teacher, commercial banker, retail manager, public relations maven, cosmetic specialist, a university student and journalist. They came up with their name after a gathering at The Social restaurant in the ByWard Market.

Many in the group have been touched personally by testicular and prostate cancer and each has a genuine desire to take care of the men in their lives by raising awareness. More than $146 million was raised around the globe for Movember in 2012.

To raise funds for the cause, group members adorned faux moustaches and struck a pose for a calendar, created with the help of 45 others, who donated their time and talent. Calendars can be purchased online at socialista­s.ca for $30, with proceeds going to the Movember Canada Foundation.

Hamilton and her twin sister Danielle Hamilton raised close to $5,000 for Movember last year, after their grandfathe­r Jack passed away in 2011 from prostate cancer. This year, the Socialista­s hope to raise $15,000 to $20,000. At the group’s launch party on Nov. 1, more than 50 calendars were sold.

Hamilton, a.k.a. Miss February, has a cachet of 12 different moustaches and is wearing one every day this month, as are her pals Michelinne Gagné, Miss January and Krystal Patterson, Miss July.

“Once you start wearing the fake moustache, you stop taking yourself seriously,” says Hamilton.

Hamilton’s group has organized a 5K walk Saturday to draw more attention to Movember. The free event begins at 11 a.m. on Parliament Hill.

 ?? JESSICA ROSE/OTTAWA CITIZEN ?? The Socialista­s, include from left, Dar Stone, Joelle Hamilton, Nicole Scherling, Krystal Patterson, Jen Pacheco, Suzy Kendrick and Michelinne Gagné at the Movember launch party at The Social.
JESSICA ROSE/OTTAWA CITIZEN The Socialista­s, include from left, Dar Stone, Joelle Hamilton, Nicole Scherling, Krystal Patterson, Jen Pacheco, Suzy Kendrick and Michelinne Gagné at the Movember launch party at The Social.

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