“One in eight men is diagnosed with prostate cancer and we have 36 men taking part. That’s a harrowing prospect.”
These are the words of Jamie West, the 30-year-old son of West and Coe owner Jeremy.
“Funeral directors are traditionally male-dominated places and the charities we’re raising money for support men’s health.
“That’s why we thought it appropriate to do here. Everyone probably knows someone who’s suffered from the disease, either through work or in their personal lives.”
Jamie is the third generation of the family to work at the Dagenham-based funeral firm.
With his colleague Ross Galvin he has encouraged West and Coe to take part in the Movember campaign, persuading each male member of staff to grow a ‘tache for November.
The team bid their razors farewell on Saturday to raise money for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health charities.
“When I first heard about it I thought: ‘I don’t want to be a part of anything that involves having to grow a moustache’,” laughed the elder West.
“But after I looked into what it’s about I knew it was for a good cause.
“The biggest thing that motivates me is the service we give to our clients and I don’t want to affect that in any way. But we’re doing it in the right way and for the right reasons.”
Jeremy has written a letter about Movember to each family involved with the firm – some of whom have lost loved ones to prostate cancer.
There’s a personal element to the campaign for Jeremy, too, as his father and a number of his friends have suffered from the disease.
“We’re very much in touch with it here. One friend of mine has had it for 14 years,” said Jeremy.
“It’s all about raising awareness so it can be caught early.”
West and Coe will become the first ever funeral director’s to take part in Movember, which last year raised £348million worldwide.
Motivation to reach a target of £10k has been spurred on by manager John Crewe’s vow to shave his beloved “mo” – a signature facial feature of his for the past 47 years.
Dagenham and Redbridge football club has also agreed to support their sponsor’s hairy pact.
To kick off the campaign, John presented a mustachioed ball to the referee at Daggers’ match against Shrewsbury on Saturday.
“There was talk that if we could raise £15k John’s eyebrows would come off too,” said Jeremy.
Jamie added: “Nobody has seen him without it. We reckon there’s just a tattoo of another moustache underneath.”
Another manager, Ross, 28, said: “The fun side of it all is that there are going to be a few people it really doesn’t suit.
“The banter has started already. Lots of people are concerned about the colour theirs is going to grow.
“The awareness it’s raised already has been huge, too.
“The money won’t stop prostate cancer, but it will go towards research.
“It will encourage testing and get people talking – and that’s why we’re doing this.”
To donate to West and Coe’s appeal click here.
Read more:
Dagenham funeral firm West and Coe to launch £10k Movember appeal today
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