Fighting Cancer Grows on D-backs, Dignity Health St Joseph’s Doctors

Stubbly Charity Event Proves to be a Close Shave

Barbers wielding straight razors put an end to Dignity Health’s “Let Your Humankindness Grow -- No Shave Challenge” today by rapidly shearing off a month-long growth from Arizona Diamondbacks President & CEO Derrick Hall, former baseball star Luis Gonzalez and doctors from Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center.

The event proved a close shave for eight daring participants during the grand finale of the bristly 2^nd Annual charity challenge.

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’  Hall, who is a prostate cancer survivor.

Former Diamondbacks player Luis Gonzalez gets a close shave.

“It’s been really special to see all of our employees walking the halls this month while letting their humankindness grow,” said Hall after the group Shave Off held at the University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s. “Of course, some beards are better than others, but most importantly, their efforts are raising awareness for men to get tested in order to help the early detection of prostate cancer.”

Called “Let Your Humankindness Grow,” the premise of the challenge was simple: Don’t shave between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30 and instead support men’s health and cancer services through donations to SupportStJosephs.org.  The Challenge raised about $50,000 for the Cancer Center last year. The Diamondbacks presented the Center with a $35,000 donation during  today’s Shave Off and other donations this year are still being counted.

“Today we are here to enjoy a great shave and to encourage men to take their health seriously,” said Subhakar Mutyala, MD, a radiation oncologist at the Cancer Center.  ”Our over-riding message for men is that through prevention and early diagnosis, men can all live longer, healthier lives. 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.”

Student barbers from the International Barber College donated their time and talent to produce the clean shaves while members of the barbershop quartet, “Audacity” performed.  The University of Arizona Cancer Center at St. Joseph’s opened in August 2015 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.