TOWN OF CLAY -- Firefighters in the Moyers Corners Fire Department have a lot to be proud of tonight.
Not only did many of them carry around, in many cases, an unwanted mustache for a month -- but they helped raise nearly $5,600 for the Burn Foundation of Central New York.
The mustache growing contest wasn't exactly a carefully constructed plan to begin with. Battalion 1 Chief Steve Zaferakis admits he thought it up on his way to work one morning. Nonetheless, fire fighters jumped on board quickly -- and the contest was on! Firefighters were encouraged to go out into the community and get donations of any kind, from cash to gift cards. Zaferakis knew the Burn Foundation could use all the help.
Friday night, awards were handed out to the most impressive and least impressive mustaches, to name a few. But also in attendance, folks from the Burn Foundation who dedicate their lives to helping burn survivors and their families.
"We're thrilled with effort here today of the Moyers Corners firefighters and the mustache contest. (It was) a lot of fun, some great camaraderie and a great cause that the money's going to be going to." said James Ennis, President of the Burn Foundation.
"It feels great to have accomplished something and to actually have doubled our goal," said Zaferakis. "It feels overwhelming to everyone involved."
Most of the firefighters plan to shave their mustaches, but they are already looking ahead to next year -- hoping to grow this mustache contest to raise even more money.
It's never to late to donate, just send an e-mail to mustache@mcfd.org for more information.
Check this out too: Before and after pictures of the firefighters. You'll see the guys who could grow a big-time mustache...and others who...well let's just say growing facial hair isn't exactly a strong point for them.
