Regional journalists up and down the country have been abandoning their razors and growing face fuzz in aid of the Movember fundraising drive.

The annual campaign aims to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.

Having originally started in Australia, the scheme has grown in popularity around the world and thousands of people in the UK now take part every year – including dozens in the regional press.

Here as promised earlier this week is our round-up of Movember fundraising efforts within the industry.

At Baylis Media Ltd, which produces the Maidenhead Advertiser, Windsor Express and Slough Express, seven reporters and photographers joined forces to raise a total of £310.

Slough Express reporters Nicholas Mayo and Philip Dewey; Twyford Advertiser reporter Daniel Darlington; Maidenhead and Bray reporter Paul Miles; Maidenhead and Cookham reporter James Preston; online reporter Stephen Scott; and photographer Ian Longthorne all took part.

Chief photographer Matthew Phillips even designed a campaign poster which he posted to Twitter in support of his colleagues, spoofing Will Ferrell film Anchorman, with five of the newly moustache-bearing members of staff edited onto the faces of the cast members.

The Baylis Media Ltd Movember team - (top) Ian Longthorne, Daniel Darlington, and Stephen Scott with (bottom) Philip Dewey, Paul Miles, James Preston and (far right) Nicholas Mayo

Meanwhile, five members of staff from the Wiltshire Times – captained by senior photographer Glenn Phillips – have been chronicling their progress online.

Owen Houlihan, Neville Smith, Bruno Clements and Craig Jones formed Team Hairy Times with Glenn to take part, raising more than £400 for the cause.

Wiltshire Times captain Glenn Phillips, Owen Houlihan, and Neville Smith

At the North Devon Journal, chief reporter Joel Cooper and reporter Will Topps decided to moustache-up for the month.

Will said they even bribed their colleagues with chocolate to encourage them to donate more, and said they were still counting the cash raised.

“I can’t wait to shave off my ‘tache, although I’m not looking forward to getting rid of it as much as my girlfriend,” he added. “Joel, on the other hand, normally has a beard so he is looking forward to growing in the rest of it.”

North Devon Journal chief reporter Joel Cooper and reporter Will Topps

At independent company KM Group, Tim Collins and Sam Lennon, both reporters for the Kentish Express in Ashford, were joined by advertising executive Ben Watson to raise more than £300.

KM Group team leader Tim Collins, 27, from Deal, in Kent, said it had been an “interesting experience”.
“The decision whether to get rid of it or keep it will be probably be more easy for some, as the fruits of our labours have been varied,” he said.

“For advertising executive Ben Watson, the resulting growth would make any US trucker worth their beer soaked t-shirt doff their cap in appreciation.

“My own personal ‘mo’ seemed to reach a critical mass at around week two, with not much progress since then, but I’ve had more than my fair share of funny looks in the street and a few comments from people, particularly on nights out. One bloke even asked me if I was a massive Freddie Mercury fan – make of that what you will, I’m still considering keeping it.”

KM Group reporters Tim Collins and Sam Lennon, plus advertising executive Ben Watson

And Ed Asquith, editor of the Scarborough News, said he was looking forward to shaving off his ‘mo’ tomorrow after the campaign comes to an end at midnight tonight (Friday).

He has raised around £50.

Scarborough News editor Ed Asquith