The end of Movember

Barber Max Lambert, from Maxim Barbers in Hastings, gets to work on staff from local plastering business Inex at the conclusion of Movember on Saturday. Photo/Paul Taylor

Not all men are blessed with the ability to grow a luscious moustache, but during November many tried their darndest.

A group of 19 workers from local plastering company Inex sprouted mos, beards, or, in some cases, a spot of chin hair to raise vital funds and awareness for mental health, prostate and testicular cancer.

Their efforts were supported by international organisation Movember, which aims to make a lasting impact on men's health throughout the world.

"A builder who works for me had the idea," Inex managing director Martin Walker said. "For me it was personal, I had a scare earlier this year - fortunately it didn't turn out to be testicular cancer, but that made me realise what other men go through; it's nice to be able to support them in some way."

Growing mo's also provided a source of entertainment for the work colleagues who discovered that their facial hair grew in varying degrees.

"It's funny how it changes people's personalities, there was one guy who had never grown a moustache in his life who looked like Zorro, so we dressed him up."

An email sent to their network of contacts has turned up about $1122, but a donation page remained open for those who wished to boost the total.

"We all have our own profiles where we post updated photos and put ourselves out there.

"You can still help out by going to the Movember website [movember.com] and search for Inex."

Mr Walker hoped to take part again in 2014, with a bigger team.

On Saturday the company held a combined Christmas party and "shave off" where a professional barber was invited to whip off the month's growth.

Last year Kiwi lads raised $1.6 million throughout the country, which was split between the Mental Health Foundation and Cancer Society.