A few brave men were shorn of their moustaches last night for the launch of the men's charity month of 'Movember'.

Until the end of this month, men will be getting clean-shaven and growing 'staches to raise funds and awareness for men's health issues.

Bermuda's Movember is being run through the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre and yesterday Executive Director Tara Soares welcomed everyone to "the Mo-launch, and the big shave-off" at the Lemon Tree Cafe on Queen Street.

As of 5.45 p.m., she said that more than 40 men had signed to get sponsorship on at the Centre's website.

While Lemon Tree proprietors Brendan and Elisha Huttick served beer, Jeanette Morrison and Helen Stirling of the Cutting Room barbershop were on hand to shave volunteers.

First man to the chair was Seventh-day Adventist pastor Stefan Burton-Schnill who said he hadn't shaved in 20 years.

"My wife and my congregation won't know me without my moustache," he said.

Former Police Inspecter John Dale said he'd decided to get the shave after reading about Movember in The Royal Gazette.

"I went right online to the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre site and signed on," he said. "I'd encourage all men to get a checkup with their doctor, and all men over 40 to get the screening for prostate cancer. Nothing to be embarrassed about."

Business broker Ron Spencer, third man to the chair, said he'd had his moustache for 15 years and felt distinctly cold without it.

Hamilton town crier Ed Christopher kept a stoic face as his trademark moustache of "many, many years" was removed. He said: "It won't hit me until I look in the mirror. But without the moustache my voice isn't going to reverberate in the old way. I'm going to sound like a little kid."

And Royal Gazette photographer Glenn Tucker, after losing his moustache, mourned: "I miss my best friend."

According to Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre marketing coordinator Deborah Titterton Narraway, the only hitch to Movember so far was one over-zealous Mo-man inadvertantly crashing the website:

"Belcario Thomas put in a fundraising goal of $8 billion, which temporarily knocked it out. He had to settle for a smaller number."

She said men of 40 and above can still collect vouchers worth $150 from the Centre toward getting a full physical from any local doctor.

"Just walk in our door at 46 Point Finger Road and ask for one of our education officers."

Bring identification showing your date of birth.

To sponsor a moustache for Movember, check in at the Centre's website: www.chc.bm.

And send your moustache pictures to The Royal Gazette: email them to photos@royalgazette.bm.

Let the growing begin.