Media release

Mayor mo-tivated to fund raise for cancer
November 7, 2006

North Shore City Mayor George Wood is growing a moustache for the first time in his life, inspired by New Zealand’s Prostate Cancer Foundation [PCF] Movember fund raising campaign.

Unlike many of his former colleagues in the police force, the city’s third-term mayor never spared his face from the razor’s blade except for some bushy sideburns back in the 1970s.

While his wife Myra always preferred her husband clean-shaven, Mr Wood was recently encouraged by youngest daughter Ally to support the PCF’s male health awareness initiative.

He joins Christchurch mayor Garry Moore among the Movember fund raisers.

“My meagre effort so far is a bit of a laugh but it’s all in a good cause. Being fair-haired, it’s not attracting a lot of attention yet.

“I hope to raise a decent sum for the charity by the end of the month,” George Wood says.

PCF’s Movember organiser, Chris Jones, says each year around 600 men die of prostate cancer, eerily echoing breast cancer’s death toll.

“Our Movember campaign sets out to change the face of men's health by making men (and women) more aware of the very real health issues they face. It's time men became more proactive at looking after themselves.

“By registering and inviting people to come on board as sponsors people will help the Prostate Cancer Foundation to continue with our work here in New Zealand,” he says.

ENDS

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