Students and staff at St Mary’s College in Crosby have been using a mix of mocha and moustaches to raise money for a leading men’s cancer charity.

Sixth formers brewed up and served morning coffee, tea and a selection of homemade cakes and biscuits to their teachers and support staff, raising £106 for the Movember campaign which helps prostate cancer sufferers.

The VIP guest at the event was PE teacher, Jan Van Deventer, who is raising funds for the same good cause by taking part in the charity’s annual moustache growing initiative which continues to the end of the month.

The idea for Movember originated in Australia in 2003. The campaign has grown year on year since then, and in 2009 255,000 people around the world raised a total of £26 million.

In this country the money goes to The Prostate Cancer Charity which educates people about the disease, funds research and provides support to sufferers.

St Mary’s College Principal, Mike Kennedy, commented: “These ‘coffee and cakes’ events have now become a regular initiative at the school.

“Over the last year they have helped to raise funds for everything from mission work in Africa to increasing awareness of the serious food allergy, coeliac disease. “I would like to congratulate our students and staff on working together to support the Movember campaign which is fighting what is the most common cancer in men in the UK,” added Mr Kennedy.

Hair today...possibly gone tomorrow - teacher Jan Van Deventer shows off his moustache to pupils (from left) Lauren Gorick, Jess Houghton, Didier Muller and Wade Williams.

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