Movember madness is set to hit the Potteries as Stoke-on-Trent is chosen to lead the annual cancer campaign in the West Midlands. 

Organisers have won the support of local companies and Stoke City FC as they gear up for this year’s Movember fundraising marathon.  

Stoke-on-Trent has been earmarked as the West Midlands base for Movember in recognition of the success of fund raisers in the city a year ago. Organisers plan to rename the city Mo-town for the month. 

Talks have been held with Angela Smith, a well known figure on the local sports and charity scene, who has agreed to co-ordinate a special Movember effort in the city. 

Angela has arranged for the YMCA North Staffordshire to become a local headquarters for Movember and has liaised with Stoke City Football Club whose players grew moustaches for the cause a year ago. 

German international centre half Robert Huth has agreed to lead the Movember fundraising effort at the Premier League football club. 

Movember will kick off a day early on October 30 when supporters will gather at the YMCA, in Harding Road, Hanley, for a mass shave-off by traditional Barbers. 

Movember’s rules state that all fundraisers should be clean shaven ready for the start of the month. 

Angela Smith, who helps to run Knot FM based at the YMCA in Harding Road, said: “The people of Stoke-on-Trent are known for their generosity and the Movember organisation has recognised this by mounting a special campaign in the city this year.

 “We are planning a series of events at the YMCA and have linked up with Stoke City where Robert Huth has pledged to get the playing squad behind Movember. 

“In common with many people in Stoke-on-Trent, Robert Huth and team mates such as Jonathan Walters grew magnificent moustaches last time around. 

“We will work with the club and companies in the city to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in Movember 2012.” 

ENDS

For further information contact Angela Smith on 07836545100.  

Notes to Editors:  

During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and testicular cancer. 

Once registered at movember.com each Mo Bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face. For the entire month each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache. There is to be no joining of the mo to the sideburns (that’s considered a beard), there’s to be no joining of the handlebars to the chin (that’s considered a goatee) and each Mo Bro must conduct himself like a true gentleman.

The funds raised in the UK are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and men’s health partners, Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research. 

Movember 2011 saw around £79.3 million raised across the world.