Firefighters in Tiny Township joined forces and helped raise funds and awareness for men’s mental health during November.
Thirty members of the local fire department — which has around 90 firefighters in total — decided to grow moustaches and fundraise for Movember, one of the leading men’s mental health charities.
“This year, with COVID-19 being a prevalent issue for everybody, this seemed like a community rallying point; something people could get behind and participate in,” said Steffen Walma, a firefighter at Station 2 in Wyevale and Tiny Township’s deputy mayor.
Firefighters in Tiny Township have participated in the campaign in the past, but it had always been an individual station effort.
This year, Walma pitched the idea of a joint effort and encouraged everyone in the department to participate.
“I tried to rally everybody. They took up the torch and it went crazy from there,” said Walma.
The 30 fundraisers came from across the department’s five fire halls and over the course of the month. Walma led the way with $2,410. Samantha Barnett was a close second, raising $2,030, despite not being able to grow a moustache. She set fitness goals and raised money that way.
“I never imagined that we would raise as much as we did. It is a testament to our firefighters and a testament to the community,” said Walma.
The Balm Beach Bar and Smokehouse chipped in and donated 10 per cent of sales from the month to the cause.
Movember’s connection to mental health and suicide prevention is what resonates with firefighters.
“The driver from the fire service perspective has been post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and the stigma that if you are a firefighter you have to be manly,” said Walma. “On top of the fundraising, we are also trying to make men’s health a priority and break that stigma, so that guys who need help seek it.”
In Canada, three out of four people who die by suicide are men, according to the website. By raising awareness, the campaign hopes to reduce the rate of male suicides by 25 per cent over the next 10 years.