Brendan Furry named JZ Cancer Fund Celebrity Ambassador

The Jonathan Zierdt Cancer Fund (JZCF) is pleased to announce that Minnesota State university Hockey Player Brendan Furry has been named the JZ Cancer Fund Celebrity Ambassador for the 2022 Men’s Health events. Furry, Co- Captain of the 2022-23 Men’s Hockey team, was the winner of the JZ Cancer Fund Hockey Day Minnesota Mullet contest, raising over $16,000 in funds for the charity and donates his time packing JZ Cancer boxes with local youth to create awareness for Men’s health.

Brendan Furry will grow his beard in honor of his uncle who is currently experiencing a cancer journey. “It is a great honor to be this year’s celebrity ambassador for the JZ Cancer Fund and continuing my journey in fundraising and driving awareness for Men’s Health issues, “said Brendan Furry. “Growing a mullet for Hockey Day Minnesota to raise money for the JZ Caring Boxes allowed me to meet and help so many people in this community.  This November I look forward to again advocating for men’s health and helping those continue their fight in beating cancer.”

In addition, Mankato Brewery and Lupulin Brewing Company are teaming up again to brew Hero Hazy IPA, honoring the late Jonathan Zierdt, with a portion of the sale proceeds being donated to JZCF, a donor advised fund of the Mankato Area Foundation.  A series of educational messages on men’s health issues, sponsored by Mayo Health Systems will run all month. 

Various events are scheduled:

Tuesday November 1

Shave Down

5:00 p.m.

Unique Hair and Ink

826 South Front Street

Mankato 

Brendan Furry and six other community beard growers will be getting shaved or trimmed in preparation for Movember Beard Growing.  Other beard growers include:

Branden Furry – MSU Hockey – sponsored by Dunkin Donuts in honor of his uncle.

Lee Schuster – Office Space Designs

Tyson Hennis – Unique Hair and Ink

Sean Morawczynski – KEYC -TV 

Dr. Scott Allen – Orthopedic and Fracture Clinic

Troy Hansen -sponsored by Snell Motors in honor of Patrick Meyer

Brandon Bloom – Caveman Custom Contractors

Jacob Ward – Radio Mankato

RELEASE OF Hero Hazy BEER

6:00 p.m. Tuesday November 1

Mankato Brewery

The Hero Hazy beer, brewed in honor of Jonathan Zierdt will be released.  A portion of the beer sales will be donated to the JZ Cancer Fund.  This is an initiative done in partnership between the Mankato Brewery and Lupulin Brewery in Big Lake.  

Music provided by: Bully Pulpit, featuring blue grass music.  

Complimentary snacks

Throughout the month a beard growing contest will go on.  We will be doing social media posts and ads on KEYC featuring the beard growers.  Votes are $5.00 each. Votes can be at https://mankato.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/event?event_date_id=2062

  Awards for the beards will be announced at the Mustache Bash on November 30.  Awards will be given in the following categories:

• Best Lumberjack Beard

• Best Viking Beard

• Best Warrior Beard

• Best Tom Selleick Mustache

• Best Mustache

• Most Funds Raised

Wednesday November 30 – Mustache Bash

Masonic Temple

5:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Wheel of Meat – featuring meat packs from Christensen farms

Joe Tougas and Associates Band

Comedian Dan Vierck

Whiskey Tasting

Taco buffet

Hero Hazy Beer

Winners of Beard and mustache contest announced

*This is a complimentary event to attend.  Funds will be raised through the meat raffle, beard voting and donations.

Throughout the month a public service campaign will be conducted on Men’s Health issues encouraging men to get regular checkups and screenings. Mayo Clinic Health System Chaun Cox will be presenting a series of announcements.