MBA students raise cancer awareness with facial hair
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 01/08/2008
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In the fight against cancer, the next medium for raising awareness is the mustache.
About 30 MBA students launched a mustache championship in December to raise awareness for Purdue's Cancer Center. Each member paid a $5 entry fee and raised money to help support research on campus. Twenty-three contestants survived the month to compete in the final judging Monday.
Steven Hentges clinched the title of mustache champion with his "flowing handlebar." Michael "Used Car" Mullen and Dan "Se�or" Lefco took second and third places. The group raised $350 for the cancer center on campus.
Since most of the students didn't have much going on in December, Jason Lebron, one of the competitors, said it was a great opportunity to help support cancer research at Purdue.
"We're hoping to make people more aware of the cancer center and it was kind of a fun way to do it over the break," he said.
Representatives from the cancer center were pleased to have the support.
"It's been here for 30 years and a lot of the students and faculty are not really aware of its presence," said Tim Ratliff, director of the center.
The cancer center serves as a research facility focused on discovering new treatments and cancer detection systems. Ratliff said the combination of Purdue's engineering and biological sciences specialties gives the center an innovative approach to developing new procedures.
Ratliff came to the mustache gathering only as a spectator, despite sporting his own facial hair.
"They wouldn't allow me in," he said, "I've got one of these �top five' mustaches, so they didn't want the competition."
Lebron said he hopes other groups would take up the challenge in future years. He deemed the experience a success and said there was only a minor "creep factor" during the holiday break.
"I've never grown facial hair like that before, so it made for an interesting holiday season and some interesting family photos."
You can view the photos of the competitors at http://www.krannertmustache.blogspot.com.