Jamestown  (JRMC)  — Men (and women) manned up for men’s health this month, raising awareness to men’s health below the belt.

More than 40 people participated in Jamestown Regional Medical Center’s annual #GROWvember beard-growing competition. Dr. Robert J. Bates, JRMC’s Harvard-trained urologist, says,   #GROWvember is a silly way to get the word out about a serious cause.

He adds,  facial hair shows you care, and opens the door to conversations about below-the-belt subjects like prostates, bladders, kidneys.

Men’s health below the belt can make a person squeamish, but ignoring symptoms can have a devastating effect.

Dr. Bates says, “Silence can be our worst enemy. Talking about these issues and seeing a specialist are the necessary steps to below-the-belt health.”

In celebration of those hairy conversations — and faces — JRMC held a Stache Bash Tuesday, Nov. 27. Award recipients included:

  • All about the Beard, No Stubble – Kevin Windish
  • Baby Beard – Brock Schrom
  • How Dapper – Taylor James
  • Best Stasch – Ben Smith
  • Whiskerina – Jodi Thom
  • Cashiest ‘Stache (most raised per category either team, individual or business)
    • Team: Jamestown High School
    • Individual: Dave Smette
  • Best in Show (most participants as a team) – University of Jamestown – Danny Neville

Proceeds benefited the JRMC Cancer Center.

Misinformation about men’s health issues is abundant, Dr. Bates said, in part because it’s so private.

Important questions you ‘mustache’ yourself: How often do you go to the bathroom? When you go, is it urgent? Do you have blood in your urine?

Dr. Bates says, various treatment options are available locally. Patients can self-refer, meaning they don’t have to visit their primary physician first. They can make an appointment directly at JRMC. That cuts down on embarrassing conversations.

To learn more or donate, visit www.jrmcnd.com/GROWvember. To schedule an appointment, call JRMC Urology at (701) 952-4878.

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D. and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2018, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” as well as a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.”  For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.