D-backs, St. Joseph’s Hospital Doctors Survive Close Shave

Arizona Diamondbacks President and CEO Derrick Hall, and former players Luis Gonzalez and J.J. Putz, along with doctors and leaders from Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center survived a close shave today at the grand finale of a bristly charity challenge.

During the GREAT SHAVE OFF, barbers wielding straight razors put an end to Dignity Health’s “Let Your Humankindness Grow – No Shave Challenge” by rapidly shearing off a month-long growth from these VIPs.

For the month of November, members of the D-backs family and hospital officials put down their razors in order to take up the cause of supporting men’s health and cancer medical services.  Leading the charge was D-backs President and CEO Derrick Hall, who is a prostate cancer survivor.

“That was a close call,” said Hall after the group Shave Off held at the new University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s.  “When you see a guy coming at you with a straight razor, most men get a little anxious and I’m no exception.  This was a great cause though, and the Diamondbacks are proud to support this important cause.”

Called “Let Your Humankindness Grow,” the premise of the challenge was simple: Don’t shave between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30 and instead make a donation to support men’s health programs at the Cancer Center.  The challenge is expected to raise nearly $50,000 for the Cancer Center.

“November was national Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, so we wanted to use this opportunity to raise awareness of cancers that most impact men,” says Dr. Keith Frey, a participant in the Shave Off and Medical Director of Dignity Health in Arizona.  “Last year, more than 2 million men counted themselves as prostate cancer survivors in the U.S. ‘Let Your Humankindness Grow,’ was a fun challenge about a serious topic.”

In total, 10 bearded men participated in the event.  Student barbers from the International Barber College donated their time and talent to produce the clean shaves.  The University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s opened in August in downtown Phoenix.  The Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated cancer center headquartered in Arizona. NCI facilities are dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality from cancer through research.