As the month of November draws to a close, so too does the heated Movember competition between our Mass Effect and Dragon Age teams. Rumors have been flying regarding hurt feelings, fractured relationships, and even a turf war, so we felt it was time to put those rumors to rest and check in with the teams for an update.
From Chris Pangrass, Mass Effect team captain
“Unfortunately, prostate cancer is prevalent in our family. Thankfully, through awareness and strides in research, my father can count himself as someone who has beaten it. I am more than pleased to be a very small cog in the giant global machine that has taken over November to help raise funds and awareness for men’s health. Personally, I get freaked out each morning when I look in the mirror for the first time and realize that I still have señor creepy growing under my nose. I’m also saddened by many associates telling me ‘it actually looks pretty good on you.’ After participating in Movember for the last 5 years, I have come to understand that while I will be happy to shave on December 1st, a little part of me will miss the Mo and the stares that it receives.”
From Ben Gelinas, leading in donations for both team Dragon Age, and BioWare overall
“I’ve personally raised more than $3,700 over four years on the strength of a simple, yet effective tactic: blackmail. My full-grown moustache is an abomination—the Anderfels of facial hair. It is patchy, wiry, and vaguely resembles wild rice up close. I can’t tell you how many horrified stares I’ve endured from people in the service industry. Here at work, many refuse to look me in the eye. I leverage this by threatening to keep the national tragedy on my face for another month if I don’t raise enough. In past years, I’ve grown the moustache because cancer research and awareness is important. This year, someone very dear to me was actually diagnosed with prostate cancer. He’s undergone extensive, aggressive radiation treatment. It isn’t good. Cancer isn’t good. And if looking creepy for a month helps in some small way to stop it, I’m happy to look as creepy as possible.”
