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WARREN, Ohio — Six attorneys at Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, the Valley’s largest law firm, have again sworn off shaving for the month of November in order to raise awareness of important men’s health issues.

HHM attorney and cancer survivor Patrick K. Wilson rallied colleagues Alan D. Wenger, Martin J. Boetcher, Vito J. Abruzzino, Matthew M. Ries and James L. Blomstrom to help support Movember, an international movement that encourages men to grow facial hair as a talking point to raise awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

Movember aims to increase instances of early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments that could ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.

“This movement is about more than facial hair – it’s a call to action for men to take charge of their health and be aware of the importance of being screened for prostate cancer,” said Wilson. “The Movember movement is about changing the face of men’s health.”

According to the American Cancer Society, other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most-common cancer in American men and the second-leading cause of cancer death behind lung cancer.

The Movember movement, in which HHM has participated for the past three years, has special significance to Wilson. He battled an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2009 and underwent surgery in April 2010 and remains cancer-free.

His father, Thomas, died of prostate cancer in May 1996, and his father-in-law, Dr. Jerome Stanislaw, died of prostate cancer in July 1997. One of Wilson’s brothers was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2008 and another brother was diagnosed with testicular cancer in his 20s.

Proceeds from the Movember campaign will stay local with Man Up Mahoning Valley, started Boardman urologist Dr. Daniel J. Ricchiuti and Humility of Mary Health Partners Foundation.

Those interested in donating may write a check payable to Man Up Mahoning Valley and send to Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell, P.O. Box 6077, Youngstown, Ohio 44503.

Harrington, Hoppe & Mitchell Ltd. is the area’s largest law firm, with offices in Warren, Youngstown and Salem. The firm provides legal solutions to corporations, other businesses, non-profit organizations, government agencies and individuals.

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