GRAND FORKS, N.D. – With an Australian on the roster, the University of North Dakota men’s basketball team has been exposed to little doses of that country’s culture since junior college transfer Chris Clausen (Adelaide, Australia) arrived on campus during the summer. Clausen’s latest educational tidbit on an Australian tradition gripped his team so much that this past Sunday, the Sioux players, along with head coach Brian Jones, shaved their facial hair to kickoff Movember.
An initiative started in Australia back in 2003 and picking up steam globally, the Movember Foundation encourages males to grow moustaches during the month of November to help bring awareness to prostate cancer and other men’s health concerns. Participants must be clean-shaven and grow a ‘Mo’ for the entire month.
Clausen’s passion easily convinced his new teammates and Jones to take part in the initiative that here in the United States raises money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. To date, more than $47 million has been raised, making it the world’s largest charity event for men.
“I think this is a great idea for our team to participate in,” Jones said. “Not only is it a good cause and brings awareness to some serious men’s health issues, but it provides a chance for our team to come together and bond around something and grow together. It’s going to be interesting to see some of these players’ faces a month from now, but I’m more encouraged to see who follows through and has the discipline to take this challenge on.”
Check back frequently on FightingSioux.com for weekly blogs and updates on the campaign. Sioux fans can join in the cause by either growing moustaches of their own or simply making donations to the Movember Foundation at all men’s regular-season basketball games in November. Supporters will have a chance to meet-and-greet the Sioux Mo Boys following their clash with Green Bay at 4 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
The Fighting Sioux will be sporting their work-in-progress moustaches for the first time in an exhibition contest against Bemidji State on Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center. Tip-off is slated for 3 p.m.
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Source: UND, KFGO News Center
