Mercy Health Kicks Off ‘Movember’ Campaign

AUSTINTOWN, Ohio – The Mercy Health Foundation and Man Up Mahoning Valley kicked off its Movember campaign Wednesday at Partners for Urology Health here.

The annual campaign encourages men to let their facial hair grow throughout the month to raise awareness of prostate cancer.

Locally, one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, keeping the illness the most commonly diagnosed cancer, second only to skin cancer. Rates of survival – and even the possibility of being cured – are high when detected early, Mercy Health officials said.

Man Up Mahoning Valley is a program of the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley. All money raised by the campaign goes directly to provide free screenings for men most vulnerable and unable to access such care.

“We have an opportunity during the month of November to really tackle a tough conversation with humor, as well as sincerity” said Paul Homick Jr., president of the Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley.

“When we say grow a ‘stache, start a conversation, save a life,’ we are truly doing just that,” he continued. “Through our community outreach awareness initiatives, Man Up and the foundation have been able not only to impact awareness, but also to allow the men who are most vulnerable in the Mahoning Valley gain access to the screenings that could save their lives.”

Pictured: Mark Murray, Mercy Health director of oncology; Kelan Bilal, Excalibur Grooming Lounge; Paul Homick,Jr., director, Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley; Dr. Nick Styn, NEO Urology; Phil Pillin, survivor.

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