MEN across the county will join with their brothers worldwide and down their razors for charity in November.

The annual Movember event raises awareness of male health problems such as prostate cancer and depression.

Throughout the month the Oxford Mail will be following some of Oxfordshire’s ‘Mo Bros’ as they cultivate their facial hair for the good cause.

Players and backroom staff at Premiership rugby outfit London Welsh will be among those taking up the challenge.

The club has invited all 17 rugby clubs across Oxfordshire to join them and will hold a ‘Mo-off’ at half-time during their game against Northampton Saints at the Kassam Stadium on November 30.

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The winner will claim a London Welsh coaching session for their club.

Hooker Ricky Reeves said: “Movember is very important and a cause that’s very close to me.

“Two people very near to me have been diagnosed with cancer and that’s why I put myself forward to be captain of the London Welsh Movember team.

“There still isn’t enough awareness of testicular cancer.

“There’s a stigma for some men attached to going to the doctor getting checked out, but it’s so important that you do to catch cancer early on.

“So many people don’t and it can end up being fatal.”

Welsh’s fellow Kassam occupants Oxford United are also supporting the challenge, although the exact number of players taking part has not yet been confirmed.

Club secretary Mick Brown took on the challenge last year and will be growing out the hair on his upper lip again this time around.

He said: “Movember is a fantastic charity and we are proud to be playing our part this year.

“This will be the second time I have volunteered and it is great to see fans already joining the team.

“We are currently leading the Football League competition among clubs and hopefully the donations will grow as the month goes on and the moustaches get better.”

The Movember cause has also attracted some of the county’s politicians to sign up.

Oxfordshire county councillor for Deddington, Arash Fatemian, took part two years ago and after a year out has decided to take the plunge again.

He said: “I think it is a really great cause and I think making people aware is a really great cause.

“When I did it two years ago my boss at the time said I looked like an Iranian Ian Rush.”

The Oxford Mail will be following the progress of Mr Reeves, Mr Fatemian and Mr Brown throughout the month.

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