Rugby club shaves mustaches for charity
Members of the Seoul Survivors Rugby Football Club and volunteers pose at the Hidden Cellar in Haebangchon, Seoul, Sunday. Courtesy of John Redmond
By John Redmond
Members and friends of the Seoul Survivors Rugby Football Club gathered to raise funds for local orphanages in a “Movember” shave-off at the Hidden Cellar in Itaewon, Seoul, Sunday.
Movember, a portmanteau of mustache and November, is an annual month-long event where men grow mustaches that are auctioned and then shaved off, with the funds raised going to charities. The concept originated as a men’s health awareness fundraiser in Adelaide, South Australia, in 1999.
Seoul Survivors has used the campaign to raise funds for local orphanages such as Huam-dong Youngnak Orphanage and Eastern Welfare Infant Care Ho.
Money raised is used to buy bedding and blankets for babies given up for adoption at the Eastern Welfare Infant Care, as well as to provide educational and sporting resources to Youngnak Orphanage, one of Korea’s oldest orphanages of mixed-race children, that was originally started in North Korea.
With a smaller turnout than last year, the event raised about 1 million won.
“This year’s event was a little smaller in scale, but those present had an enjoyable afternoon and gave generously,” said Nick Goodman, one of the organizers.
Formed in 1977, the Seoul Survivors is the oldest expatriate rugby club in Korea.
The club currently plays in two competitions, the Korean Expat Rugby Association (KERA) competition and the Yellow Sea Cup (YSC) competition.
The KERA cup is contested between four teams, Seoul Survivors, Busan Bandits, Ulsan Goblins and the Stars and Stripes from the U.S Army in Korea.
The YSC is contested between three teams, Seoul Survivors, Beijing Devils and Shanghai Silver Dragons.
The club manager is Yoon Sok-hee and sponsors include the Hidden Cellar, The Workshop and Pilsner Urquell Korea who donated raffle prizes.
For more information or to donate money, visit facebook. com/SeoulSurvivors.