By Anson Walldorf

This November, the male members of the Pine Whispers staff have decided to participate in “No Shave November.” Some of the beards have come along better than others. Mine for example, has come in well except for the area between my sideburns and chin. As a result, it looks pretty terrible.

   Aside from looks, beards can also become very irritating and itchy. This makes it very tempting to shave, but doing it with a group like the rest of the staff makes it easier. It has been especially difficult for senior staff member Charlie Mensh.

   “I don’t like not shaving, it makes my face itchy and is pretty ugly. But at the same time it is worth it because it is the only time I can get away with looking homeless,” Mensh said.   

   As the month went on it got much more difficult to live with the facial hair, becoming too much to bear.

   “The beard got scruffy and made me me look like too much of a dirty person,” said Mensh.

    Others were forced to shave because of demands from parents. Sadly, I was one of the members that was forced to shave my facial hair. I made it thirteen days into the month before my Mom made me shave it for various reasons. Senior staff member Jack Peatross was also forced to shave his hair, due to the pressures of his mother.

    “I was telling everybody to ‘fear the beard’ through my Snapchat story. However, my mother did not fear the beard and forced me to shave it,” Peatross said.

    Mensh, Peatross and myself were the only male members of the Pine Whispers to shave this November. The eight other staff members and Mr. Hunt did not break the rules of no shave November.

     Not shaving was a very difficult task for senior cross country captain and Pine Whispers member, John Paynter.

    “The beard added resistance to my running and I believe, added on seconds to my time,” said Paynter.

    For others the beard became a nuisance and was very irritating, especially as the month went on. This was true for senior Isaac Cooper, who has one of the fuller beards on staff.

   “During the day it never really bothered me too much. When I was trying to sleep though it was very prickly, especially when I would lay on my side,” said Cooper.

   For others the temptation to shave was very strong, especially when several other members had broken the rules of No-Shave November.

   “It has been an uphill battle with everyone falling to the wayside,” senior Liam Sherman said.

   Other members like Ben Westcott there was not much of an issue with shaving because he shaves about every other month.   

    “It was really easy because I did not grow anything,” Westcott said.

   No-Shave November is not just an activity but is used as a way to promote men’s health awareness in men’s health, especially prostate cancer. Approximately one in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime.

  Another purpose is to donate the money you usually spend on shaving products to finding a cure for prostate cancer.

No-shave November has been a great and fun experience for myself and the rest of our staff. It also has been a great way to make an impact in finding a cure for prostate cancer.

Photo Provided by Eliza Carlton