Malorie Bertrand and Amie Beausoleil show off their hairy pits in aid of a quirky fundrasing campaign for breast cancer.
In light of Breast Cancer Awareness month, Unshaven Mavens is taking a different approach to awareness of the disease by not shaving their armpits to raise money for the cause geared towards a younger audience.
Unshaven Mavens is a month-long charity campaign of “women who are knowledgeable about spreading awareness of early detection . . . for breast cancer,” says Malorie Bertrand, co-founder of Unshaven Mavens. If the under arm-area is swollen, it could mean that the lymph nodes are swelling due to a virus.
“The earlier you detect, the better your chances of survival,” says Aime Beausoleil, co-founder, while attending the campaign’s second “pit-stop” this month.
Unshaven Mavens' second of three “pit-stops” took place on earlier this month at the Standard Luxury Tavern on Elgin Street.
A “pit stop,” as Beausoleil describes it, is when the Mavens meet up, encourage hair growth, and have a drink.
It’s also a time to take progress pictures of the growth of their armpit hair. By the two-week mark, the pictures start getting really hairy, jokes Beausoleil.
Unshaven Mavens began officially last year after being inspired by other hair-growing campaigns like Movember.
“It began as a joke . . . but we noticed an appetite for it,” says Beausoleil.
While there are many fundraisers that exist for cancer awareness, Unshaven Mavens takes a humorous, self-deprecating and preventative approach to help draw in a younger crowd.
“Rethink Breast Cancer’s whole purpose is to target women under
40 to give them the tools they need for early detection, prevention, and healthy living,” says Bertrand.
Rethink Breast Cancer is about “bringing sass and style to the cause in order to engage a younger demographic and remind women to think about their breasts,” says Nikki Byrne, manager of Rethink Breast Cancer. “Our goal is to raise awareness and create messaging that speaks loud and clear.”
Women are encouraged to make a team of five or six women who are willing to toss aside beauty norms and grow their pit-hair for a good cause. Supporters can donate online at www.unshavenmavens.ca and at events.
All proceeds go to Live, Laugh, Learn, a ladies night out for women diagnosed with breast cancer.
Unshaven Mavens currently has plans to expand to larger metro cities such as Montreal and Toronto, where Rethink Cancer is located.
This year, a woman from Qatar is participating in the charity campaign.
This week, the Mavens will attend their Red CarPIT Bash at The Space on Bank Street where participants who have raised the most money or grown the most armpit hair win prizes from several Centretown sponsors, including Purple Urchin and Urbanite Jewellery.
The Mavens' goal this year is to raise $10,000.
In the future, Beausoleil hopes that her foundation will become obsolete and that a cure will be found.
“I want a cure. But the legacy will be that . . . pits for tits will by synonymous with early breast cancer detection.”