Guys Giving Back

It makes my heart melt. (and yes, I do in fact have a heart…)

So, November is now known as #Movember. Yes, you need the hashtag for it to be legit.  #Movember is for men’s health awareness, and in particular, prostate cancer.  And what says ‘men’s health’ more than a wickedly awesome mustache? Exactly, nothing else.  Prostate cancer, according to the American Cancer Society, is estimated to take the lives of approximately 33,000 men in 2011, and that approximately 240,000 new cases will be diagnosed in 2011.  Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men, right behind lung cancer. As a soon-to-be oncology nurse, I’m always thrilled to read how athletes give back, especially when it comes to cancer and cancer research. The fact that these men are willing to grow a ‘stache for the cure is simply awesome.  I’m in love with how many of them are documenting their growth, both on Twitter and on YouTube.  Hiller has a #Movember goalie mask, as does Tim Thomas. More proof that the NHL is awesome.  I’m sure many of us are following at least one NHL’er or athlete on Twitter who is growing one for men’s health. If not, search here and see who is participating using the #Movember.  If you can, throw a dollar their way, make a small difference.  Check out Movember and search for them. It’s easy really.

But what makes the NHL special, is that there are many guys who give back year round. So I figured, hey, why not take the time to shed light on these amazing guys and their amazing work. Let’s start with a favourite of mine, John-Michael Liles of the Toronto Maple Leafs.  Or as I like to call him, #JML.

Photo courtesy of Lisa Gansky Photography

I’ve been a fan of #JML since he broke into the NHL in 2003 with the Avalanche.  Aside from being a stellar defenseman, he’s also a stellar community presence.  He’s given back to the community, participating in countless Avalanche Charity Events, Kempe’s Child Abuse Super hero in April 2010 and most recently his efforts in his new town, Toronto.  No sooner did he arrive in the big TO, he was visiting at Sick Kids Hospital. It takes a classy guy to give back to a community mere minutes after signing with them.  A classy guy with a big heart.  He now also has, according to Mapleleafs.com, “Liles’ Buds”.  Liles’ Buds provides recognition to kids who do good deeds, random acts of kindness in school and in the community. Proving that no good deed goes unnoticed. Selected winners get to have a meet & greet with #JML, tickets to practice and a game.  Big props to #JML for not only raising awareness of the overwhelming accounts of bullying, but making it acceptable for kids to step in and say something when they see it happen, or prevent it from happening.


I'll spotlight another one on Wednesday...