No Shave November

Put down the razor

For years I’ve wanted to participate in the No Shave November campaign to raise money and awareness for cancer. But my job as a morning TV news anchor has prevented me from doing so. Earlier this year a Twitter page called @TheBeardAgent started following me and encouraging men on the news to start growing a beard. The idea is to put down the razor for a month and donate any money you’d normally spend on maintenance or products to the cause.

So I checked out the official No Shave November website. I’m impressed with what they’re doing. This year the Prevent Cancer Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital are benefiting from the money raised. I have lost several family members and friends to various forms of cancer. My mom has gone through two battles with bladder cancer.

Our family knows first hand how devastating the disease can be. But we also know there is hope in the fight. That’s why I want to lend a hand and some facial hair to this cause. We all know someone who has been impacted by cancer. So join in this effort, whether it’s with a donation or by letting your hair grow.

Admittedly, I have not been granted permission for this endeavor. It’s for such a worthy cause I think a month of scruff will be okay for our viewers to endure. I have never gone more than four or five days without shaving, so this should be interesting.

I don’t expect to get a full beard out of the deal. But thanks to Snapchat we can get a glimpse of what that might look like. The salt and pepper in the beard are pretty accurate too.  Wish me luck and join in if you can. You can make a donation here. My goal is $250. Thanks!