KEY POINTS:
It's been called the South Island Special.
While the men in Cromwell grow moustaches to raise awareness for prostate cancer, the women are leaving their left armpit unshaven for a month - all for Movember, the health campaign for the most common cancer among males.
When the Golden Gate Lodge in Cromwell decided to run an equal opportunity Movember competition at the start of the month, 13 women signed up.
"Some guys just can't put up with facial hair themselves, and some girls can't put up with armpit hairs. I thought it was only fair enough," said general manager Glen Christiansen.
"When you grow a beard, the wife or the girlfriend will often say, 'that's it, no snuggling for you for a month'. Now some guys have the opportunity to say to their partners, 'no snuggling for you either'."
The pub is holding Friday photo sessions to chart the 40 entrants' progress, culminating in a party on December 1 which will involve, among other things, shaving cream.
For the women, there's a bonus - the local hairdresser has signed on to do a "shape and colour" of the armpit fuzz. "She will have 13 armpits that she can shape and colour at will. It's a pretty horrid thought, really," said Mr Christiansen.
One female contestant already had "phenomenal coverage", he said.
"She's definitely got a good bit of stubble going.
"We've some that are very pathetic - and that goes with the guys as well ... It will be interesting to see in another 20 days where we're at.
"We haven't got a true ginga - which is a bit upsetting - but then they would probably win straight off."
One man and woman each stand to win a trip for two to Sydney for their month-long efforts.
More than 8000 men have pledged to grow a moustache for Movember, raising just over $100,000 so far for the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
