The fun-loving team at R Marine Crawley are keeping a stiff upper lip this week after a month of sporting wonderful whiskers … although in some cases that’s most certainly a more-than-slight exaggeration.
On Tuesday, the ‘haute handlebars’ finally got the chop, so to speak, and some would say it was certainly not before time.
In fact, as the fundraising month of Movember came to a close, a few members of the team were found struggling to mark the milestone moment with anything resembling a meaningful moustache.
Of course there was a serious side to the tongue-in-cheek trend – the R Marine Crawley team was helping to raise funds for a movement that has made a tangible difference for the health of men right around the world.
Dealer Principal of the Riviera and Belize dealership based at Runaway Bay on the Gold Coast, Ben Crawley, at one stage resembled what many might suggest was a ‘Mexican pool man’.
Ben admits there was a real sense of purpose amongst the team to assisting the great Movember cause.
“When we finally shaved them off I have to say it felt … different,” he says as he prepares to launch into the latest round of good-natured ribbing.
“Our service and maintenance manager Jade Anderson had the edge on us all in the mo-growth stakes – he usually sports a fluffy set of handlebars so it was relatively easy for him.
“Luxury boat broker and management assistant Michael Donnan, as the young buck of the team, was really struggling but he finally managed a whispy Fu Manchu-cross-grasshopper style.”
The rest of the participants in the R Marine Crawley Movember challenge team – luxury boat brokers Ben Leigh-Smith and Jason Kowalski along with warranty manager Nick Westh – were spared the light-hearted digs from Ben … but it was a close shave.
However, Mo-Sista Lauren Dayberg-Muir, the dealership’s creative and marketing manager, didn’t miss: “Tragic – that’s the best way to say it!”
Jokes aside, the R Marine Crawley team managed to raise an impressive $2738 for the Movember cause, including donating a percentage of profits from all boat purchases settled throughout the month of November.
“The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, long lives,” he said. “Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising $685 million and funding over 1000 programs focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and physical inactivity.
“It’s great to have been able to support such a great cause, and have a lot of fun doing it.”