Manchester commuters may find themselves in hairy situations this month as trains are given moustache makeovers in aid of this year’s Movember fundraising event.
Commuters may notice the rather dashing pieces of facial hair adorning the front of some Northern Rail services throughout the month of November.
Over 50 trains across the network have been given the moustache treatment, turning them into Mo trains, the first of which finished its journey in Manchester Piccadilly station on November 1.
Gemma Colley, a spokeswoman for Northern Rail, said: “We approached Movember with the idea we could put moustaches on our trains and help raise awareness of men’s health issues.
“We realised we had an opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of people and to get them talking about Movember and what it stands for.”
The Movember movement started from humble beginnings in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, and has grown into global event, with more than 1.1 million people participating last year.
The charity supports men’s health programs that fight against prostate and testicular cancer and mental health problems with research and support.
So far Movember has raise more than £276 million as well as raising awareness around the globe of the health problems face by men.
Employing more than 4000 men, the issue of men’s health and wellbeing is very important to Northern Rail, making their work with Movember a natural choice.
Having never participated in the event before, the company has no idea how much it can hope to raise, but so far has accumulated almost £2000 within the network.
Ms Colley explained that it would be difficult to calculate the actual figure, as it would be impossible to tell how many customers had been inspired by the Mo trains to take part.
Nevertheless, Northern Rail staff are doing much more than just growing impressive facial hair for Movember.
Its army of around 300 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas are holding bake sales, doing official ‘Mo Runs’ and a poster campaign in 150 stations across the North will help raise awareness and additional funds.
Ms Colley said: “There is a real mix of people getting involved and growing a moustache – from board directors to train drivers and conductors and there is a very hairy feel about Northern at the moment!”
For more information Northern Rail’s Movember event visit www.northernrail.org/movember and to donate or participate in Movember visit uk.movember.com/?home.
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