From left: GJ, Colin, and George Gerner. Photo courtesy of Colin Gerner
April 6, 2018 By Nathaly Pesantez
You can help fund brain cancer research by shaving mustaches off at an upcoming Long Island City benefit.
The Stache Shaving Celebration will take place on April 12 at Jackson’s Eatery/Bar, where attendees could score a chance to shave the hefty mustaches off three men from the Gerner family.
The New York-based family’s life changed less than a year ago after a cancer diagnosis struck a member of their tight-knit clan.
George “GJ” Gerner was 29 when he had a seizure last September. His brother, Colin, was with him when doctors discovered a tumor in George’s brain hours later–which George continues to fight.
As GJ prepared for emergency surgery just days after the diagnosis, he shaved his beard down to a mustache—mimicking Colin’s own mustache he began sporting that week. That’s how the #StacheStrong movement was born.
“We never really had a mustache before,” Colin told the LIC Post. “It became our superman cape, if you will, that took us through. And it became a platform.”
Colin and GJ’s father, George Sr., also began to grow out a mustache, along with other friends and family members. “It got to the point where our mustaches were recognizable, and we created a 501-c3 ‘Stache Strong’ organization,” Colin said.
All three will have their seven-month long mustaches shaven off at the upcoming fundraising event, which Colin specifically organized at Jackson’s for their mustache-logo. The proceeds will go toward glioblastoma research, the type of aggressive cancer GJ was diagnosed with.
Those who donate to the fund through the family’s “Stache Strong” website, where their trajectory since September has been extensively documented, will be entered into a raffle to shave a portion of the mustaches off.
Upwards of $7,000 has been raised so far, according to Colin, who will also be running the NYC Marathon in November to raise more funds for brain cancer research.
Since his surgery, GJ has undergone several rounds of chemotherapy and other extensive treatments, all of which have been personally documented in his online Caring Bridge page. He also returned to his job for the first time this week.
The fundraiser will take place at 6:30 p.m. on April 12 at Jackson’s Eatery/Bar, located at 10-37 Jackson Ave. Attendees will be charged $30 in cash at the door for two drink tickets. Happy Hour food prices will also go all night for separate purchase. Gift baskets and other items will also be raffled out at the event.
Featured Events
