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Oct. 31, 2016
Media contacts: Brianna Neace (Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan), 734-512-8047 or Maia Turek (DNR), 989-225-8573
"Novembeard" healthy hunter event blends beards, bucks and blood pressure checks
 As hunters prepare for the rigors of deer season, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan are encouraging male hunters to also set their sights on better health.
To help get the message out, the DNR and BCBS have partnered with Jay’s Sporting Goods, Otsego Memorial Hospital and Mid-Michigan Hospital to offer free health screenings Friday, Nov. 4, as part of the second annual “Novembeard” campaign in Clare and Otsego counties.
Men spend an average of three minutes a day – that's more than 18 hours per year – shaving. Yet, nationally, 55 percent of men in the last year haven’t invested the one or two hours needed to get a physical. "Novembeard" was created as a celebration of facial hair, hunting and health to encourage men to view the annual physical as just as important as beard and gun care.
“What started as a fun social media message from the DNR in 2015 has grown (pardon the pun) into a great opportunity for men in northern Michigan,” said Maia Turek, promotions specialist with the DNR. “Thanks to the support of our partners, "Novembeard" has already made a real difference.”
In 2015, the event attracted more than 100 people, and Otsego Memorial Hospital was able to provide 85 free health screenings – more than four times the goal they had set for the day.
“By offering screenings in a convenient location for men who are preparing for hunting season and with Jay’s incentives to participate, it’s easy to take just a few minutes to ensure you are physically ready for the woods this season and beyond,” said Suzanne Miller Allen, director of community responsibility for BCBSM, who convenes the partners annually.
Get ready and get checked. Stop by either Jay’s Sporting Goods locations on Friday, Nov. 4, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hospital staff will offer free blood pressure checks, body composition checks and free cholesterol screenings on a first-come, first-served basis. At each store, a crossbow will be raffled off among those who complete a health screening, and gift cards will be raffled off on the hour.
The second annual "Novembeard" events are located at:
- Jay’s Sporting Goods, 1151 S. Otsego Ave. in Gaylord (partnering with Otsego Memorial Hospital)
* A special media presentation will be hosted at noon at this location only.
- Jay’s Sporting Goods,8800 S. Clare Ave in Clare (partnering with Mid-Michigan Hospital )
The DNR will be showcasing beards of DNR staff on social media channels this November. Join in on showing off your hunter beards. #Novembeard
For more information, contact Brianna Neace, public relations specialist with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, at 734-512-8047 or BNeace@bcbsm.com or Maia Turek, promotions specialist with the DNR, at 989-225-8573 or turekm@michigan.gov.
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Learn more about how the Recreation Passport gains you access to Michigan state parks and more at www.michigan.gov/recreationpassport.
/Editors’ note: An accompanying photo is available below for download. Suggested caption information follows.
Representatives from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the DNR and Otsego Memorial Hospital participate in the first annual "Novembeard" in 2015./
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
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