For Massey fundrasier, ‘stache equals cash

Hillary Huber

Contributing Writer

During November, male students in the School of Dentistry, Class of 2014, will be growing, grooming and styling a mustache for “Mustaches for Massey,” a fundraiser for pharyngeal cacner, or cancer of the larynx.

To raise money, students will find sponsors willing to donate money to the cause for as long as they can keep up their facial hair during the month-long event. All proceeds will go the Massey Cancer Center.

Andy Coalter, a dentistry student, came up with the idea. It began from the “No-Shave November” ritual, but Coalter decided if he was going to grow facial hair for a month, it might as well be for a good cause. Thus “Mustaches for Massey” was born.

“As D1’s (first-year dentistry students), we have been immediately tasked with coming up with fundraising ideas to raise money for our class,” Coalter said.  “But, as a way to acknowledge everyone who contributed to our acceptance into VCU Dental School, we wanted to have our first fundraiser be for somebody other than ourselves.”

Tarah Coleman, another dentistry student, said the biggest goal of the event is to raise awareness in the community.

“This year in the U.S., 50,000 individuals will be diagnosed with oral, pharyngeal cancer, or cancer of the larynx, and 13,500 deaths will occur as a result of these cancers,” Coleman said. “We also want the community to realize that we have a National Cancer Institute designated cancer center right here in Richmond where there is cutting edge research being done, and has more therapies available than any other cancer center in the state.”

According to Gordon D. Ginder, M.D., the director of the VCU Massey Cancer Center, the research facility “offers more clinical trials than any other cancer center in Virginia, which in turn enables us to offer more hope and new treatment options to people with all kinds of cancer.” The Class of 2014 School of Dentistry students wanted to further the center’s research specifically in oral cancer.

“The death rate associated with this cancer is high, not because it is hard to discover or diagnose, but due to the cancer regularly being discovered late in its development. It is often only discovered when the cancer has metastasized to another location,” Coleman said.

“Oral cancer also increases your risk for another type of cancer 20 times because of its risk of developing a second primary tumor,” she added. “We want the community to realize that screening is key to lowering the mortality rate for this disease.

The “Mustaches for Massey” campaign’s goal is to raise at least $1,000 with hopes of continuing the event annually.

Stephanie Jenks, assistant director of special events at the Massey Medical Center, said she is excited and proud of the dentistry students.

“Massey is truly honored to have the support of the first-year students at the School of Dentistry. As future dentists, they will be integral in identifying oral cancer and we appreciate them taking their role so seriously at this early stage in their careers,” Jenks said.

Along with the monetary donations for the mustaches, “Mustaches for Massey” t-shirts will be on sale for $15 to $18 in the Crockett Lounge at MCV during lunch hours. The fundraiser has a Facebook page where photos of the on-going event and other updates can be found.