It's official! Alberta's future physicians and dentists are the top Movember fundraising team in Canada.
The fifty students in the second year medical and dental class all sported moustaches for the month and raised $21,566 for the cause which supports prostate cancer research, awareness and new this year, men's mental health.
"It went completely beyond what I even imagined at the beginning of the month," said Vikram Karnik, a second year medical student who organized his class' team. "I'm so happy we can raise this much money for prostate cancer and men's mental health. Being future health care professionals we wanted to do something that was both fun and for a good cause."
Last year the group raised $7900 and Karnik attributes this year's success to persistence, with people going after sources they wouldn't have last year. They're also getting help from the 'Mo' sisters in their class who organized a fundraising bar night, a bake sale, and they designed and made tee-shirts, as well as crocheted coffee sleeves.
The dean of the Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, Douglas Miller, couldn't be more impressed with the students' efforts.
"This is something we as a faculty should be very proud of," said Miller. "This speaks volumes to the character of the students going through our medical and dental programs."
The group receives a prize from Harley Davidson for their top fundraising efforts.