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Ford workers in Valley join hair-raising cancer drive
WARREN
The men of Klaben Ford Lincoln of Warren took up a men’s cause: growing facial hair to raise awareness and research money for prostate and testicular cancer during November.
The beards are getting pretty thick around here, said John E. Repula, head of sales and leasing at the dealership, who persuaded about 25 male employees and owner Mike Klaben to participate in the growing worldwide Movember movement to raise awareness of men’s cancer issues.
Repula said he was inspired to get involved in Movember by a Vindicator story about Warren Atty. Patrick K. Wilson, who enlisted fellow attorneys from the Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell law firm in Youngstown and Warren, to grow beards and moustaches to raise awareness and money for the cause.
Repula’s awareness of the Movember movement came at about the same time as one of the men on the Klaben staff was diagnosed with prostate cancer, giving him further incentive to organize an effort at Klaben.
“I would love to see Ford do this nationally,” he said.
As of Thanksgiving Day, in addition to a lot of hair, the Klaben men had raised about $2,000 of their $2,500 goal to be donated to cancer research. Further, Repula said the dealership owner has pledged to donate $25 for each new and used car sold during the month.
Also, they had many opportunities to talk to customers, acquaintances and family about prostate and testicular cancer in explaining their budding beards and moustaches.
“When they hear about it, they think it’s a wonderful idea,” said Repula, originally of Austintown and now living in Girard.
He said he would like to see Movember become a November tradition in the Mahoning Valley.
“We challenge every dealership and law firm to pick up the cause for next year. I would like to see the Mahoning Valley take the lead in this. If all the car dealerships and law firms picked this up, the donations would be really impressive,” he said.
“Who needs lifted up more than those of us who live and work in the Mahoning Valley. It is such a depressed area emotionally and economically,” he said.
“I know today when I sit down for Thanksgiving dinner I’m going to feel better. It feels good to give,” Repula said.