Andrew Sachs Centretown News

Moustachioed men show off their facial hair as part of a fundraiser for children.

These men are taking part in the fourth annual Mustaches for Kids (M4K), a charitable event where participants grow moustaches in order to collect pledges and raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Eastern Ontario.

What began as a fun tradition for three university classmates has grown into an annual campaign, explains Mike Hollingworth, a co-founder of the Ottawa chapter of M4K. Growing season began early this November and wraps up with the annual Stache Bash, where the participants celebrate the moustaches they grew and the money they raised on Dec. 5.

The campaign kicked off at The Clocktower Brew Pub on Bank Street – where most M4K meetings and events take place. All participants are clean shaven at kick-off. Participants commit to growing a Tom Selleck-style moustache for five weeks.

Weekly meetings are held every Friday night at the pub for the growers to show off their ’staches.

 “Part of the whole philosophy is raising money for a good cause and also having a good time,” says Hollingworth.  

On Metcalfe Street, some of the young men at 76Design – a company whose staff is involved with M4K– began growing some moustaches of their own.

Brett Tackaberry, lead developer at 76Design and an M4K Ottawa co-founder, says it is a fun and convenient way for people to get involved.

“They want to help out, but they want something that kind of fits with their lifestyle,” he says.

 “This region for years has become obsessed with the walking fundraisers,” says Ryan Knuth, a 76Design developer and analyst. “Finally beer-drinking couch potatoes have a chance to help out as well.”

Dom Coballe, a co-worker of Knuth, has been involved with M4K since it began in Ottawa and says M4K is more effective than “simply donating money or attending a one-time event.”

Like Tackaberry, Coballe participates in the campaign as a grower and assists in strategies and ideas to promote the initiative.

Jordan Boesch says he decided to get involved because a lot of his co-workers were participating and, besides the thrill of growing purposeful facial hair for the first time, he finds it is good to help out sick children.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation is happy to have the lively bunch involved and helping out.

“They’re all great people,” says Dennis Elliott, from communications at Make-A-Wish. “M4K granted three wishes last year.”

In 2007, M4K raised $15,000 for Make-a-Wish.

An organization that began with less than 15 members in the first year has grown by word of mouth, and is now attracting members from all around Ottawa.

“It’s been doubling every year,” says Tackaberry. “It really just grew on its own accord, like a moustache.”