Movember Madness Strikes Eastside Fire & Rescue

Movember Madness will soon come to a close at Eastside Fire & Rescue, where a friendly, fuzzy competition between Eastside and Kirkland firefighters to see who can grow the best--or weirdest, mustaches has been going on all month.

The good-natured 'stache-off is a "Movember" competition between the fire departments to draw attention to the fight against cancers that affect primarily men.

Movember is a global fundraising campaign and competition in which many men grow mustaches during the month of November, and raise money that goes directly to programs of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

At Eastside Fire & Rescue, some firefighters, such as Ryan Hendricks and Cody Ramstad, have worked hard to grow new mustaches, while others, including Capt. Pete Brummel, shaved off their mustaches at the beginning of the month and started a fresh fuzz for the competition.

Kirkland and other Eastside firefighters have joined the campaign -- it is no coincidence that studies show firefighters are far more likely than the general population to suffer from prostate cancer, testicular cancer, multiple myeloma and non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

The effort culminates locally in a party on Nov. 30, 6 p.m. at the  pub, with prizes going to the firefighters with the best mustache, creepiest mustache and most money raised.

Kirkland’s first responders are officially participating this year for the first time, and reaching out to the community to help them raise more money than participating Redmond, Bellevue and Eastside Fire & Rescue firefighters.

“Our goal is to raise enough awareness this year to have a larger competition next year,” said Kevin Martin, a firefighter/EMT based at Rose Hill’s Fire Station 26. “What we want is to pit Eastside vs. westside (Seattle), and just get more awareness out at the local level.”

The public is welcome to attend the celebration at the Wilde Rover. 

“A cheering section, an audience, would be great,” said Martin. “The Eastside Pipe and Drums will be there too.”

Eastside Fire & Rescue doesn't have an official donation page, but encourages people to donate through the Kirkland firefighters “Mo Space” page at https://www.movember.com/us/donate/your-details/team_id/376054 .

In addition to the interagency competition, Eastside Fire stations are having their own competition for the hairiest shifts, Brummel said. The commander of the losing shift will have to keep his 'stache through the month of December.