Seoul Survivors raise over W3 mil. for orphans

Jesse O’Hara, right, has his moustache shaved by a volunteer at Scrooge Pub in Itaewon, Saturday. / Korea Times

By John Redmond

While Christmas for many holds expectations of gifts, nice food and visiting loved ones, there are many in the community who are not so fortunate.

In keeping with the Christmas spirit, a local expat group raised money culminating in a “shave off” at Scrooge Pub in Itaewon on Saturday.

Seoul Survivors RFC, the oldest expat rugby club in Korea founded in the late 1970s, raised over 3 million won for Seondeok Orphanage over the month of November.

Using the popular “Movember” fundraising concept, members of the rugby club took what was originally a men’s health initiative and geared it to a local charity.

“Traditionally Movember was to raise awareness for men’s health, we have always chose to support more local charities,” said Ben Vickory earlier, a Movember representative.

Movember is an annual, month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during November.

It originated in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1999, when a group of young men came up with the idea of growing moustaches for charity in November.

The club’s annual campaigns have raised in excess of 10 million won which has been used to support its community work.

The events on Saturday night included a vote on the best, worst and weirdest moustache, a raffle, followed by a shave off where guests bid to shave the moustache of their choice.

In the voting, some of the categories were not too subtle, in true keeping with the spirit of the game of rugby.

For this writer, the moustache that really stood out amongst the pirate, bandito and “Thomas Magnum” inspired choices was that of Australian Jesse O’Hara who gave a whole new twist to the Inspector Poirot look.

Last year the club made a substantial donation to the World Food Program, who in turn used the money to provide a North Korean kindergarten for orphans with a six-month supply of food aid. The main beneficiary of the money raised has been the Seoul-based Seondeok Orphanage.

“The orphanage provides shelter to some of Korea’s most vulnerable citizens, orphaned girls ranging in age from infants to 18-year-olds. In the past the club has organized and funded events with the girls,” said Vickery.

“Previous days out have included a sports and games day followed by a BBQ, a day at the movies, a visit to Seoul Zoo, and a Christmas party at an ice skating rink. These events have been enjoyed immensely by the girls, and have been very rewarding for the Survivors who attended,” he added.

The evening provided participants the chance to interact with locals while giving a well deserved boost to raise funds for children with greater needs.