No-Shave Nooga Initiative To Raise Funds And Awareness For Cancer Organizations

  • Tuesday, November 3, 2015

This November, people around the world will participate in No-Shave November, a national campaign launched in 2009 by Rebecca Hill of Chicago, Ill., following her father’s 18-month battle with colon cancer. The event was first designed to benefit the American Cancer Society and has grown to also benefit three additional national cancer organizations.

Unlike No-Shave November, Chattanooga’s inaugural No-Shave Nooga campaign will bring the focus, and the funding, to cancer organizations here at home. 

No-Shave Nooga was suggested and inspired by Dr. Talon Maningas, a facial plastic surgeon, who desired a fun, competitive way to bring together his fellow doctors, the staff, and patient families at Southern Surgical Arts, a cosmetic and facial plastic surgery center located in Chattanooga’s Southside.

“We are in an industry that is primarily focused on women, and I felt this would be a great way to bring our doctors together and make a difference toward a great cause,” said Dr. Maningas. 

SSA’s founding partners, Dr. Carey Nease and Dr. Chad Deal, were inspired by Maningas’ passion and united with their director of marketing, Jennifer Deal, to create a fundraising event out of the competition. With 90 percent of their patients being women, the doctors wanted to connect the male demographic in their community with a campaign that would unite Chattanoogans around a great cause in a fun-spirited way. 

"These days, nearly everyone is affected by cancer," said Dr. Nease.  "We each have a family member, close friend, or neighbor with some form of the disease.  When Dr. Maningas suggested
we do something as a practice group, we knew we could make it a win-win for the community
and the organizations.” 

Ms. Deal brought the idea to SSA’s local public relations agency and then No-Shave Nooga was born. Dr.’s Nease and Deal, along with surgical fellows Dr. Ricardo Bonnor and Dr. Talon Maningas, their team members, Tyler Cole, RN and Albert Romero, CRNA, and Chief Operating Officer Jason Merryman, MBA will be shelving their razors and growing their facial hair in an effort to raise awareness and funds as part of their campaign.

Four out of 10 people will be diagnosed with some form of the disease during their lifetime, and this campaign aims to demolish this statistic.  

Local beneficiaries include the Ronald McDonald House, the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the Pink Heals Chattanooga Area Chapter, the American Cancer Society, and the Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation, and through a partnership with IHeart Radio and US101, St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital. 

A campaign celebration will take the form of a community-wide Shave-Off to be held at the last Chattanooga Market of the 2015 season, Nov. 22, in the First Tennessee Pavilion. Participants, both individuals and teams, who have already donated are invited to come get a clean shave or haircut. Anyone who missed the opportunity to donate beforehand or participate in a team will be welcomed at the Shave-Off for a $10 donation at the door. Local barbers will be on-hand to offer their services and all funds will go toward the No-Shave Nooga cause.

Radio personalities Sassy, from 103.7 Kiss FM, Daniel, from the US101 Morning Show, and Styckman and Cowboy Kyle from the US101 Night Show will be on site to get the crowd excited. Representatives from Ronald McDonald House, the Austin Hatcher Foundation, the American Cancer Society, and the Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation and Pink Heals will be there to thank all donors and participants and share more relevant information. 

IHeart radio on-air personalities from US101, 103.7 Kiss FM and Rock 105.5 will be onsite, and the Pink Heals firetruck and police cruiser will be onsite with flashing lights and firemen dressed in pink fire suits for family-friendly activities and photo opportunities. 

Chattanooga area businesses and community members are encouraged to make a pledge toward a donation and/or form teams at www.noshavenooga.com. Details can be found online or by emailing contact@feminology.co.

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