Joe McDevitt, owner/CEO,
Black & White Roofing

Attention bearded (and clean-shaven) roofers: It’s your time to shine. No-Shave November is here.

Put down the razor, set aside the clippers and hide the scissors. Let your facial hair run wild.

No-Shave November – a month-long hiatus from facial hair grooming – has roofing contractors (and others) nationwide embracing their best mountain-man look in the name of charity.

The rules are simple: Start with a clean-shaven face at the beginning of November and let nature take its course. Resist the temptation to trim, groom or otherwise preen.

By the time Thanksgiving dinner is on the table, family members may be dropping not-so-subtle hints that it’s time to shave.

Wave them off and explain: No-Shave November started in 2009 in memory of Matthew Hill, a Chicago dad who died of colon cancer. Hill’s eight children wanted to pay tribute to their father while raising money to support cancer research. A similar charity that’s also become synonymous with the no-shave month – Movember – started in Australia in 2003.

Even though they are separate charities, the intent is similar – to raise awareness for men’s health issues. Funds collected through the No-Shave November charity support the Fight Colorectal Cancer, St. Jude’s Research Hospital and Prevent Cancer Foundation organizations.

The shaving stoppage is a conversation opener to disease education, the No-Shave November group said.

“The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.”

To start a No-Shave November drive, sign up on the website – no-shave.org – and ask family, friends and even strangers for financial support.