What the heck is up with the new logo?

[Grant Lamontagne]

Some of you may have noticed the new logo- and that's because it is that time of year again where I make a complete fool of myself to try and raise money for Men's Health issues such as Prostate Cancer and Mental Health.

Team Multi-Moe was started years ago by MultiMat (miss you buddy, hope you are doing well!) and when he moved on to other things it kind of fell by the wayside, until I resurrected it last year after one of my closest friends committed suicide.

It was a bit of a last minute throw together last year, and we didn't have a whole heck of a lot of success.

This year will be different- I've been able to plan a few things and make some arrangements for some cool stuff!

To donate you can click on THIS LINK or scan the QR code below.

But why should you donate?

Well, that is simple- do you know of any man in your life that you would like to continue to be alive?  Or perhaps YOU ARE a man in your life that should continue to be alive?

The on!y men on this planet that are not going to experience prostate issues are men that end up dying of something else before your prostate has a chance to kill you.

And, with roughly 75% of all suicide deaths being those of us who pee standing up, well, its pretty obvious that there are serious issues facing men that we don't talk about.

But, this is a forum, a place where we talk about things, so lets talk.  Lets support each other like we always do- at Multitool.org, we look after our own.  We always have, we always will.

To that end, I am asking you to toss the equivalent!ent of a few cups of coffee to the Movember Foundation this month.  They do good work.

To encourage you, I'm going to grow a moustache, or at least try.  The Good Lord gave every man certain abilities, but when it came to moustache growing... Well let's just say that most high school kids can grow better moustaches than I can, and I'm closing in on 50.

I'm also going to pledge to walk 200kms this month.  I was going to shoot for 240, but then a couple of weeks ago I got covid and I'm still having some problems so I decided to be a bit more realistic.

Last year I managed 180kms, so its still a challenge!

Okay, that's all well and good, but what's in it for you?  You know, besides a healthy head and ass?

Well, everyone who donates at least $20 to our Movember campaign using THIS LINK or by scanning the QR code below, will get one of our brand new, limited edition Multitool.org Movember foil stickers!

These are pictured below, Electrician not included!

So, what are you waiting for?

Start talking and start donating.  Movember has started!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Oops.

Forgot the foil sticker pic!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I had a bit of a slow start on my 200ims of walking yesterday.

You see, I started out walking my dog in the morning, wearing my nice Merrill slip ons, and completely forgot to change into my work boots when I went to work.

Between the rough terrain of a half built highway and my inherent walking problems I was guaranteed to have an accident, which I wouldn't have been covered for since I wasn't wearing proper PPE!   

So, I fell quite short of the 7kms/day I need to average to make my 200 kms in a month. 

Luckily there is lots of time left to make it up!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Also I would like to point out that we are off to a strong start with $110 in donations yesterday! 

HUGE thanks to those who kicked the month off so we could start strong!

   

Also, for those that like doing math, that gets us over 10% of the way to the goal this month, with only 1/30th (or 3.3%) of our time elapsed!  If we can keep up that pace then we won't have any issues at all getting to the finish line!

Great job so far everyone!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I did a little better with walking yesterday, despite being in a training course all day.  I'm still well below the average for what I need to make the 200kms this month, so I'll have to make some up.

Donations are also up to $160, so that's great to see!

Def

[m47mu74nt]

Pushed 30CAD$ to you, apparently that's a bit over 20€

[Grant Lamontagne]

I just saw that!

Thank you very much!

Send me a PM with your address and I will get an very cool MTO foil sticker off to you ASAP!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yesterday was also not a great day for walking. Work is getting busy and I may not have a lot of time to get some walking in.

That part may end up being a complete fail.   

But, on the bright side, donations are up to $190, so the important part is going well!

Also, leading up to this I ordered a new electric razor- a Braun S3.  I usually don't use an electric because it irritates my sensible skin issues and I get horrible razor burn, but sometimes it's the right tool.

Unfortunately I promptly misplaced the charging cord, and I was pretty annoyed with myself for having "put it somewhere safe!". 

Luckily it was also found, the razor is recharged and today's photo on the Movember profile page shows the razor is back in use!

Def

[LoopCutter]

Great cause and endeavor Grant!!!

I am (hopefully) a Prostrate Cancer survivor😉

Ended third procedure, 39 radiation treatments in February 2023.  And in July my last PSA was <.01.  Next test In January 🤨

I said third?   After being confirmed via a biopsy procedure. 30 days after I laid my wife to rest, the results were that all 13 samples were 60% or more cancerous.

I elected surgery to remove the pesky gland.  Also, 39 or lymph nodes were removed.    September 2021.   Followup was December, and PSA was <.01, 👍

Second test in February, PSA = .2, 🙄.    A third PSA = .3🙁

Full body scan found a lymph node was hot (bright red) on the scan.   This resulted in 5 treatments of CyperKnife radiation.   Follow up  in September, PSA = .9, still rising.
A 2nd body scan.

Confirmed the Lymph node was  now clear.  But, the Prostrate Bed was now suspect and the 39 treatments issued starting a few days after Christmas in 2022.

Trust me 39 days.  Every day Monday through Friday for 8 weeks is a chore.   

Plus, you make waiting room friends,  appointments  are same every day.   But, a big  BUT!   The number starting treatments was always higher than the number completing treatments

I learned, by asking discreetly why the numbers were off! 
My team and the my nurses and even my oncologist said the same thing…. Too many  patients  do not survive long enough to complete their treatment as they just did not act when symptoms were first observed. 🥹💙💙

This is GREAT thing Grant👍👍👍

Contribution completed🦋🦋🦋

[Grant Lamontagne]

I'm sorry to hear the story, but I'm glad that you are still here to tell it, and I hope you are around to tell it for a long time.

Make sure to send me a PM with your address so I can get your stickers off to you.

Thank you so much for your donation and sharing your story.  And I look forward to hearing the story of you ringing that bell.

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Another good day, but not enough to make up for the slow days!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks to Steve, we are good n good shape!

Less than 1/4 of the way through the month and we are already past 1/4 of the way to our funding goal!

Thanks for the donations everyone!

Def

[SteveC]

Thanks to Steve, we are good n good shape!

Less than 1/4 of the way through the month and we are already past 1/4 of the way to our funding goal!

Thanks for the donations everyone!

Def

You're welcome and best of luck in meeting your goal !   

[Grant Lamontagne]

Thanks Steve- it's not just MY goal, it's OUR goal!

We should all make sure we stop turning a blind eye to men's health issues.  We need to bring things like prostate and testicular cancer into the light.

Every biological born male has a prostate, and it is pretty much a ticking time bomb.

Half of all men between 50 and 60 years old are likely to develop prostate issues.  If you are blessed to live until you are 80, that number jumps to NINETY PERCENT.

 

And yet, we aren't talking about it.  That's got to change.

We can be as obstinate about it as we want, but that doesn't change the facts.

This billboard sums it up perfectly.   

Def

[SteveC]

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

As of the end of November 10th we are officially 1/3 of the way through November.

Currently donations are sitting just a little short of 1/3 of the way to our goal, so if you have a little extra change in your pockets, I'd appreciate you digging deep! 

I will understand the donations being a bit short as I am also not really holding up my end- currently I'm about 20 kilometers short of where I should be at this point.  If I'd kept up my average, I'd be at around 67 kms by now, but unfortunately I'm only at 46 kms.   

Fortunately I am off for the next few days, so hopefully I can get some additional mileage in and catch up a bit!

Of course, if you think my mileage is bad, wait till you see my pathetic moustache!   

It wouldn't be much of a challenge if it was easy!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

And ten days in, here is my feeble attempt at a moustache.

 

Def

[LoopCutter]

Looking good 

[LoopCutter]

I started late, growing out hair on the cheeks at feeble attempt to start a beard in support…
 

IMG_5118.jpg (Filesize: 113.13 KB)

[Grant Lamontagne]

I imagine you will surpass me shortly!

Even my one year old has a better moustache than me!

Def

[LoopCutter]

Actually, your natural mustache hair line will make it easy to trim!

Looking good!    I have had a mustache since 1973, in fact my  wife never ever saw my face without the hair above my lip.


Give it time!  The hair is catching up with eye brows!

A 1 year old.   I did not know,  CONGRATULATIONS!!!

[Grant Lamontagne]

Yeah, that's Dash.  We adopted him last February.

He's my first little dog (my "small dogs" are usually in the 70 pound range!) and it's been a lot to get used to.

Still, he's a great little monster and I wouldn't trade him for anything

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

To quote Monty Python, I'm getting better!

Just over 8 kilometers each for the last couple of days!

It's not enough to catch up to my intended goal of 200kms just yet, but it's progress!

And, a few more donations have helped as well!  I'm still a bit short there too, but every little bit helps!   

Tossing even something as small as a $5 donation can really make a difference- we have THOUSANDS of members on this forum- imagine if everyone here even gave just a dollar!  We'd be there in no time!

I'd also like to say that this moustache has advanced to the annoying stage, and I am desperately wanting to shave the damn thing off!   

But, with just over two weeks left to go, I have to hang in there, itchy and annoying as it is, because this is a worthy cause!

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

I had taken my moustache for a walk this morning and I've always admired this view in my neighborhood.  The morning light was hitting the bridge beautifully and I thought to myself "how can I ruin this?  I know!  I'll stick my face in it!"

So, here is the result- my latest moustache update photo.

Def

[SteveC]

 

[LoopCutter]

 

 

[Grant Lamontagne]

I managed to add some decent mileage today, but I'm already feeling it!

Tomorrow is going to be a very unpleasant day, but it's for a worthy cause.  They wouldn't call it a Challenge if it wasn't challenging, right?

This brings my total for the month so far to 73 kms, which is still very short of my goal.  I should be at 91 kms today if I want to hit 200 kilometers by the end of the month.

Def

[LoopCutter]

You can do anything you put your mind to.

One step at a time😉

[Grant Lamontagne]

Just a heads up- tomorrow, November 15th, Pringles Chips will add $25 on top of every $50 donation!

If anyone was waiting to donate, or wants to make a donation count as much as possible, tomorrow could be your chance!

https://ca.movember.com/mospace/884328?utm_source=qrcode&utm_medium=mo_app&utm_campaign=movember&utm_content=app_share_mospace_qr

Def

[Grant Lamontagne]

This is an excerpt from an email i got from the Movember Foundation:

In Canada, Movember is the largest funder of research focused on translating laboratory findings into new prostate cancer treatment options and the second largest funder of overall projects relating to prostate cancer research, having invested over $107 million since 2008.

And it doesn’t stop there all thanks to your support. Movember is announcing four new prostate cancer research programs, with a Canadian funding investment of $5.8M CAD, aimed at reducing the number of men whose disease becomes incurable and delivering more consistent and improved personalized care to reduce variation in prostate cancer treatment and outcomes.

You see, Movember is more than some silly moustache organization.  They really are working hard to make a difference in the lives of men.

And before anyone says "oh that's Canada, I live in _______ so that doesn't apply to me."

That's absolute BS. 

I get the Canadian letter because I'm in Canada, but Movember started in Australia and is a worldwide organization.  Donating to someone's campaign in another country doesn't lessen the impact it can have in yours.

Now is the time to support Team Multi-Moe!

Def