Things are getting pretty hairy at the $2 billion NewJersey-based Affinity Federal Credit Union.

John Fenton, CEO, and Joe Herbst, senior vice president andchief strategy officer, decided to go head-to-head to see who canlast longest without shaving to raise awareness about prostatecancer among the company's 370 employees and 133,000 members. Theyare competing to grow the best beard this month as part of theMovember campaign for men's health.

Employees and members can pick their team—Team John or Team Joe—and make a pledge to the Affinity Foundation for each day they gounshaven. Their challenge will end no later than December3.

Movember is hybrid of words combining the words moustache andNovember. The campaign idea started in Australia as a way togenerate awareness and raise money for men's health issues,particularly prostate and testicular cancers. The idea is thatwhen a man grows a mustache or a beard, people ask him why, openingthe door to men's health education. Another connection to cancerawareness is that patients often lose hair during cancer treatmentand by embracing facial hair, participants in Movember aredisplaying an outward show of support.

”It's obviously a very good cause,” Herbst said. “It's fun, itraises morale and it's a competition between bosses. I figured, whynot?”

One hundred percent of the funds raised by Affinity will bedonated to the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey to supportfree prostate cancer screenings.

In the U.S., Movember raised $21 million in 2012, up from $15million the previous year. Movember donates to three causes: theLivestrong Foundation, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and its ownGlobal Action Plan program.

By Nov. 14, the credit union had raised $1,231.

“The employees love it,” Herbst said. “They love the competitionand they really like to see us go head-to-head. Some employees arevoting for both of us just because it's a great cause.”

Both men said that the women in their lives dislike the beardsand can't wait for the end of the month, but they understand theimportance of the contest.

“It's important in this day and age to take the message ofpreventative health to the public in any way you can,” Fenton said.“My older brother had prostate cancer but found out early and beatit. This isn't something you can ignore.”

Fenton and Herbst said that they have appointments for prostateexams.

“The staff is involved and I know a lot of the men are going infor check-ups because of this message,” Fenton continued. “Andmembers are also pitching in and donating to the cause.”

Fenton said that he is taking a lot of good natured ribbing fromemployees and members.

“One of the staff asked me if Tim Allen should be worried I'mgoing to take the role of Santa Clause away from him,” he said.“Around here we all work hard so we like to play hard. This is alot of fun.”

Herbst agreed that the contest is going well and said that thereare already plans in the works to celebrate Movember in 2014.

“It's an important message, we raise money for a great cause andits fun for all of our employees,” he said. “And hopefully I canreach my goal of beating the boss.”

In addition to internal promotion, the contest is also beingshared on Affinity's Facebook page.