Annually, Prior Lake High School hosts a No-Shave November fundraiser, an event where classes compete to raise money. The winning class’s teacher then can choose a charity to which the money is donated.
The No-Shave November trend began in 2003 in Australia as Movember; a group of friends grew out mustaches and raised money for men’s health charities. Since then, the trend has grown into two separate foundations (Movember and No Shave) that both donate to the cause.
This year, Prior Lake raised a total of $4,756.29 for the fundraiser, with the choir department leading the charge and donating roughly $4613.
Led by choir directors Rob Hahn and Randi Erlandson, Hahn said it’s a tough sell getting people to donate out of the blue.
“But when you start talking about it, you talk about the people behind it,” he said. “The stories and the memories, and the health issues that go with it; there’s lots of connections. Everybody has those connections in their lives, and as soon as it’s personal, it’s easy to give.”
But that’s not all PL had to offer this year. Running alongside No Shave was the Beards for Brad campaign. Run by AP Government and Politics teacher Chris Gaudette, Beards for Brad raised money for Brad Bulver and his family.
Mr. Bulver was a Prior Lake special education teacher and coach for 25 years. He was recently diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s Disease, a degenerative neurological disease that unfortunately has no cure.
“I felt like we needed to do something,” Gaudette said. “Having been able to raise money in the past, I thought if I could do it again, it would be for Brad.”
“It’s personal because he’s been a colleague and friend of mine for 25 years,” Gaudette added.
Beards for Brad would raise an impressive $3200, bringing the school-wide total to nearly 8000 dollars raised.
In honor of the Bulver family, both Prior Lake’s No Shave and Beards for Brad campaigns chose to donate their shares to the ALS Foundation and the Bulver Family respectively.
