Running and riding for a cause

Some ran hills. Others ran miles. A few even ran half marathons.

And everyone rode a bike.

It was all part of a team effort to raise funds for men’s health during November. Today, marks the last day of the month. And the USC Rugby Club wrapped up the campaign by raising nearly $5,500 surpassing its goal, which was $5,000.

All funds have been directed to the Movember Foundation, an organization that was founded as result of the Movember movement, which was sprouted in Australia in 2003.

It’s simple: throughout the month men are encouraged to grow a mustache to raise awareness and funding for research related to men’s health including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health.

Of course, many of the boys attempted to grow mustaches (some more successful that others). Players conducted their individual campaigns by running miles, hills or half-marathons for pledged gifts.

Everyone pitched in for the fundraiser’s final push: a 24-hour bike ride. From 9 a.m. Wednesday to 9 a.m. Thursday, the club set up two stationary bikes on the Pickens Street pedestrian bridge near the heart of campus.

Playing music under a branded USC Rugby tent, the team cheerfully solicited donations from passerbys.

The club kept both bikes rolling during the cold night despite nighttime temperatures, which dipped below 30 degrees. That’s Artic for Columbia. In all, 48 players took turns on a bike.

“This is a great cause and the entire team participated,” said Club President Grant Howard who led the campaign with Sasha Barker-Pilsworth, a freshman player from Liverpool, England. “We are a very close team, but this brought us even closer. Moreover, it raised on-campus awareness about our program.”