It's all looking hairy as cash target nears

"If there was a competition for the best ginger mo' then I'd be in with a chance - to be honest it's a bit of a shocker," Jeremy Bateman said with a laugh.

However, he was quick to add that a couple of the other five guys at Sims Pacific Metals in Napier were in slightly worse "mo' shape".

Not they have worried too much about it given that the decision to put the razor away for a month has already resulted in raising a good slice of the $450 they have collected so far for Prostate Cancer NZ as part of Movember.

"We set a goal of $500 so we're getting close, and the boss in Auckland said he'd match what we raise - he might get a bit of a shock to see how much we've raised but yeah, it'll be a good shock for a good cause," he said.

Mr Bateman said he had been involved with Movember campaigns before but this year was the first time the whole team at Sims Pacific had decided to put their follicles behind the cause as there was something of a challenge element to it.

The company, with four branches in the North Island and four in the south, wanted to do its bit for mens' health awareness so asked staff to give it a shot.

While some of the other firms had more staff the Napier crew appeared to be right near the top.

"We've managed to get five customers of ours aboard as well - they're growing away."

As well, office administrator Chloe Stokes had been running weekly meat raffles to boost the collection coffers.

"It's a fun thing and for a good cause, and we want to raise more than the bigger yards," Mr Bateman said.

As well as creating funds it had also created a few laughs.

"One off the young guys has been struggling to get one growing. He's got a wedding to go this weekend and said he might have to shave it off ... but as we told him, you can hardly see it anyway."

Another of the crew was "getting grief from his wife" every night, Mt Bateman said.

Asked how he rated his own effort on a scale from one to 10 Mr Bateman was reluctant to put a figure on it.

"No, it is a bit of a shocker," he said.

"It's taken half a month to get going."

While happy to be part of a worthy cause, and show the big-city boys how to raise money, one date is now firmly circled on the calender.

"December 1 ... the day they're coming off."