Movember fever is back and as popular as ever (From Somerset County Gazette)

Movember fever is back and as popular as ever

2:00pm Thursday 1st November 2012 in Taunton By Michael Marsh

ITCHY faces and crazy facial hair can only mean one thing... Movember is back.

It’s that time of year again when moustaches sprout up on thousands of men’s faces across the UK and around the world to raise vital funds and awareness of men’s health charities.

The increasingly popular event, which gets its name from a combination of moustache and November, sees men show off their weird and wonderful facial hair in aid of prostate and testicular cancer.

From today (November 1), men taking part will begin their Movember quest clean shaven before growing a series of designs throughout the month.

They must not be clean shaven again until December 1.

Staff at the Cosy Club in Taunton have started their own Mo Team.

Manager Graham Blackwell said: “I’ve persuaded all the guys who work here to get involved this year.

“We’ll all have different styles. It’ll be good fun.”

Four punters at the Dolphin Inn, Wellington, are going for a Mexican-themed Movember.

Martin Caley, David Scott, Jon Crane and Steve Smith, also known as Martinas el-Dolphinas, are hoping to raise as much awareness as possible after coming up with the idea while in the pub.

County Gazette reporter Michael Marsh is taking part, and is clean shaven and ready to get growing.

Follow Michael’s progress each week in the paper and see his Twitter updates at @GazetteMMarsh