ACT team proves size isn't everything for Movember success

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 14 December 2010 14:55

IT People - People

A team from the ACT backed by local carrier TransACT achieved a world-beating result in Movember.

Movember - the annual event that draws attention to men's health and raises money for the Prostate Cancer foundation and beyondblue - has many supporters among those working in the IT media. (Asked a question by a ostentatiously moustachioed journalist at a press conference last month, the Federal Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy prefixed his reply with "Please tell me it's Movember!")

So we're happy to give a plug to a company that supported a significant contribution to this year's event. A team of five ACT businessmen and one businesswoman backed by TransACT raised a total of $134,000 - a world's best performance for a team of no more than ten members.

The team comprised TransACT CEO Ivan Slavich, TransACT general manager retail David Parkes, Hellenic Club of Canberra president Theo Dimarhos, Rock Development director John Efkarpidis, King O'Malleys managing director Peter Barclay, and Sybil's Closet owner Danielle Neale (who participated by letting her leg hair grow).

Slavich's moustache was sponsored to the tune of $65,000, another world beating performance. "TransACT is pleased to, once again, have been able to do our bit for the local - and indeed, in this case, global - community," he said.

"This incredible result really demonstrates the generosity of Canberra people and its business sector," said Movember spokesperson Jim Slattery.

In total, $64 million was raised by Movember 2010.