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It was partly due to a whim that the Army veteran had to look like the character of Van Pelt in the 1995 Jumanji movie, but it was mostly the desire to help students that Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Patrol Officer Larry Bowles forwent shaving his face for the entire month of June. 

Bowles won first-place in the Mustache Mayhem contest designed to raise money for SIUE students impacted by the Coronavirus pandemic and sponsored by Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (IL FOP) Lodge #328. 

“I decided to compete in Mustache Mayhem, because it was a good opportunity to raise money for impacted students in our community,” said Bowles, IL FOP president. “Also, getting to grow a pretty cool mustache is always a plus in my book. The event allowed us to stay within the guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic and also have a little fun with our facial hair. I’m always one to volunteer and help out, especially if it means being able to make someone laugh or smile.” 

The IL FOP Lodge’s goal is to help bridge the gap between police departments and their communities, according to Maria Ferrari, SIUE patrol officer and lodge secretary.           

“One way we hope to do this is by hosting fundraisers, like Mustache Mayhem, to financially give back to our communities,” added Ferrari. “The idea of the mustache contest was that of SIUE Patrol Officer Jeff Wooldridge.” 

The fundraiser began Monday, June 1, with contestants paying a $15 entry fee and submitting photos of their clean-shaven faces. Contestants submitted a final photo by Tuesday, June 30. A $5 fee was charged to those who voted on their favorite mustache. 

“We raised a total of $175, and our Lodge will match 100% for a grand total of $350 to be donated to the SIUE Foundation,” said Ferrari. “The Foundation will ensure that a student who needs it the most will receive the money. Coming together during a crisis is what communities do, and we are glad we could do our part.” 

“The IL FOP Lodge #328 is a Fraternal Lodge comprised of SIUE Police Department patrol officers and other department members,” noted Ferrari. “We started the Lodge in 2017 and currently have 28 members. The Lodge was formed to promote unity within the SIUE Police Department, other police departments, the SIUIE community and the surrounding communities.” 

For more information, visit the Lodge’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Lodge328,  email siuepdlodge328@gmail.com or write to P.O. Box #553, Edwardsville, Ill., 62025. 

Photo:
Larry Bowles, SIUE patrol officer and president of the Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (IL FOP) Lodge #328, is seen before and after the Mustache Mayhem contest.