November is known as ‘Movember,’ in which men are encouraged to grow a moustache to show support for those suffering from men’s health issues, and to raise funds and awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer.
Sporting a moustache, Rob Larkin, a Sault Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedic, is preparing for a gruelling 60 kilometre run Sunday, beginning at the Echo Bay fire hall, through Sault Ste. Marie and ending at the Prince Township fire hall to raise funds and awareness for men’s health.
Starting out from Echo Bay at 8 a.m. Sunday, Larkin will run west along Highway 17 to the Sault, make a stop at the EMS station at 65 Old Garden River Rd., continuing to Number 3 fire hall on Bennett Boulevard, make his way to Queen Street East and the boardwalk, then make the trek back out of town along Wellington Street West, then to Second Line and the Prince Township fire hall.
“Men’s health needs more awareness because men are notorious for keeping things inside and for not getting help. Something like Movember really puts it to the front of people’s minds and gets them thinking and hopefully gets men to seek medical help (including routine precautionary PSA tests),” Larkin said, speaking to SooToday.
“We took this on as a workplace as a fundraiser, and we’re doing it in part to help out one of our co-workers who was recently diagnosed with a men’s health issue.”
“As a local team we’re nearing about $6,000 in funds raised and I’m just over my own goal of $500,” Larkin said.
Larkin said he will be running alone for most of the journey (which he estimates will take about eight hours), accompanied at some points along the way by his father-in-law, co-workers and wife.
“For about seven years I’ve been doing long distance running. I’ve done half marathons and full marathons and I did a full marathon in October in Toronto, so hopefully I’m still in pretty good shape after that. This is the longest I’ve ever run for sure,” Larkin chuckled.
Funds raised through Larkin’s run goes to the Movember Foundation for men’s health research. To make a donation to Larkin’s run, click here