Thanks to those who participated in the Beardvember: Curing Cancer One Beard at a Time campaign.

Over the last 2 years, we’ve raised more than $15,000 for cancer research. Further, we’ve spread awareness about two potentially devastating diseases, and how each and every one of us can make a difference.  Your participation has inspired us, and we are so very grateful for your contributions.

Due to circumstances outside of our control, we (Rachel, Scott and Scott) must take a year hiatus from the active role you have all come to expect.  What does for Beardvember?  It means that we won’t be able to send frequent email updates or post “Hairy Facts” to Facebook and Twitter, and we won’t be actively seeking new participants and donations.

For some, this news might come as a relief as you won’t be nagged weekly for a donation!  For others, the dedicated beard growers, the financial contributors, the hundreds of supporters who have put a face to Beardvember, and most importantly those impacted by cancer, this may come as a disappointment.  We are disappointed not to be able to join forces again this year.

But worry not!  We are still encouraging contributions through a dedicated page with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (ma.lls.llsevent.org/beardvember2012) and we still encourage you to grow your beard to raise awareness.  We will be here to help and support you in any way we can.

Feel free to visit our website (www.beardvember.com), Twitter (@Beardvember), and Facebook pages to share how you’re celebrating Beardvember.  We’d love to hear from you and how you’re keeping the tradition alive.  Most importantly, we look forward to getting out next November and once again actively dedicating our time and faces to the cause.

Thank you for all that you’ve done to make the past two Beardvembers such a success.  We look forward to hearing from you next year.  Until then, have a wonderful holiday season and may you find health, happiness, and joy in the New Year.

Rachel, Scott and Scott

And just when you thought we were done…

Here is Beardvember participant Michael Leibowitz after 30 days of growth.  Michael helped us reach our goal of raising $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  Thanks to Michael and all of our participants, donors, and supporters for making Beardvember 2011 such a great success. 

See all you hairy mugs next year!

Join us tonight as we celebrate a very successful Beardvember, having raised $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!

When:   Thursday, December 1, 2011, 6:30-8:00 PM

Where:  Tavern in the Square, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA (map and directions)

Who:    YOU, Beardvember participants from the greater Boston area (and even beyond!), and the inspiration for Beardvember: Rick & Evalyn Merrick!

Come have a drink and appetizers on us!

Hey ladies, didn’t think you could participate?  Well here is Cassandra Rivera, proving all of you doubters wrong!  Thanks for your support, Cassandra!

As Beardvember nears its end, we’d like to recognize a few Beardvember participants who set fundraising goals and, in most cases, far exceeded them!  The below people deserve a big thanks from all of us!

Michael Leibowitz

Mario Mendoza

Arturo Ochoa

Ernesto Ramirez

Team Scruff and Buff: Dr. Eddy Furniss, Bill Richardson, Nate Stark, and Robert Lee

Team BGC Partners: Alexis Feliciano, Rick Gerard, Steve Cudzil, John Pagan, Sean Hurley, and Carlos Aguilera

Representing the entire Gannon Family, here is Josh Gannon’s very impressive beard!  Great growth, Josh!  A big thanks to you, Kate, Larry, and Karen for all of your support!  

Here is Team BGC Partners, who earlier today reached their goal of raising $5000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!  Thank you, and congrats!

Front Row (l-r): John Pagan, Sean Hurley, Carlos Aguilera

Back Row (l-r): Alexis Feliciano, Rick Gerard, Steve Cudzil

Beardwatch, Day 30:  Sam Beecher’s beard is clearly ready for prime time!  Nice work, Sam, and thanks for your participation in Beardvember!

We want to congratulate Alexis Feliciano and his team, BGC Partners, for exceeding their goal to raise $5000 for Beardvember!

Alexis has been one of Beardvember’s most dedicated members, and we can’t thank him and the entire team enough for contributing and helping to make Beardvember a big success.

Again, thanks and congrats to Alexis and his team: John Pagan, Carlos Aguilera, Steve Cudzil, Sean Hurley, Rob McCormick, Rick Gerard, and Bill Babis

Great work!!

Beardvember’s Mario Mendoza shows off 30 days of growth!  Thank you, Mario, for your support of Beardvember!  While Mario hit his goal of raising $250 earlier this month, he has continued to raise money and awareness.  

With less than 14 hours, you can still help Beardvember reach our goal of raising $10,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society!  Donate now!

29 days ago we set out to once again call attention to an important cause, to raise money for cancer research, and to have some fun in the process.  Thanks to you and our many supporters, we’ve been able to raise $7,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Evalyn and Rick Merrick are cancer survivors because of generous people like you.  They are two examples of the many thousands of people who continue to live with these terrifying diseases with the hope that someday soon we WILL find a cure.

In the next 14 hours, help us raise the final $3,000 to reach our goal of raising $10,000.  Donate now!

Regardless of the final number, we can be proud of our efforts to raise awareness for this important cause, and believe we have raised hope for thousands of cancer patients in their time of need.

14 hours from now, the 45 “official” participants will shave their beards, real or otherwise, and Beardvember will come to a close.  However, our work to help others who struggle daily will never end.  We will continue working to find a cure.

On behalf of Evalyn and Rick Merrick, all of the participants, the nearly 100 donors, supporters, family, friends, and colleagues, cancer patients and survivors everywhere, we say thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

The Beardvember Team

Scott Merrick

Rachel Merrick Maggs

With 25 hours left, Beardvember wants to take a moment and recognize all of our participants for their support.  Thanks in large part to their efforts, we’ve raised awareness of this important cause, and raised nearly $7,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.  And we’re not done!  Help us reach our goal of raising $10,000 now!  Donate here

Beardvember 2011 Participants: 

Scott Merrick

Scott Maggs

Rachel Merrick Maggs

Rick Merrick

Evalyn Merrick

Charles Evans

John Olenick

Lexi Feliciano’s office team, BGC Partners: John Pagan, Carlos Aguilera, Steve Cudzil, Sean Hurley, Rob McCormick, Rick Gerard

Wes Wynn

Arturo Ochoa

Nick Fredrich

Ali Abbas

Jeff Napoli

“Scruff and Buff”: Dr. Eddy Furniss, Bill Richardson, Nate Stark, and Robert Lee

Jerome Davis

Jonathan Lowndes

Gary Surman

Dianna Block

Kate Schellie

Dave Schellie

Ernesto Ramirez

Joe Garfias

Chad Cole

Joseph Isbell

James Price

Mario Mendoza

Joe Matero

Michael Leibowitz

Kirwich Joseph

Grant Edwards

James Thompson

Paola Pardo

Sam Beecher

Joshua Torvi

Nicolas Rico

Thank you!!!

After 28 days, Scott Merrick’s beard has clearly been inspired by all of the participants, donors, and supporters.

Visit www.beardvember.com to find out how you can still make a difference and support the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.   

To show our appreciation for your support, we invite you to join us and celebrate another successful Beardvember!

Join us!

When:   Thursday, December 1, 2011, 6:30-8:00 PM

Where:  Tavern in the Square, Porter Square, Cambridge, MA (map and directions)

Who:    YOU, Beardvember participants from the greater Boston area (and even beyond!), and the inspiration for Beardvember: Rick & Evalyn Merrick! 

Come have a drink and appetizers on us!  

We look forward to seeing you there,

Scott, Rachel & Scott 

P.S. Can’t make it to Boston?  Have your own celebration and send us pictures! We’d love to hear how you’re choosing to mark the end of a successful and fun Beardvember