Have you noticed that more men grew facial hair this month? In particular, they sprouted moustaches. There’s a reason for this. Actually a very good one.
During November each year, Movember is responsible for new moustaches on thousands of men’s faces around the world. With their “Mo’s,” these men raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
These men start Movember 1st clean shaven. For the rest of the month, these men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Often they are supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas. Mo Bros register at www.movember.com, and then raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts. In this way they effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November, raising awareness for the often-ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember.
According to Movember, the funds raised in the US support prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. The funds raised are directed to programs run directly by Movember and its men’s health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. Together, the three channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programs in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.
Since its beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.
In 2010, over 64,500 US Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising $7.5 million USD. According to its website, this year so far, the US had 143,082 registrants and had raised $10,720,504. In Canada, 244,536 registered and raised $30,310,067, and in the UK 251,327 registered and raised $19,161,373. You can see all the countries participants and earnings here.
Movember aims to change the face of men's health by putting a fun twist on this issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, the movement wants to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly. Movember aims to increase early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment in order to help reduce the number of deaths from cancer. Movember's primary campaign objective is to raise awareness of men's health issues, specifically cancer.
Do you know anyone who grew a moustache in November? It’s not too late to donate… What are you doing to fight against cancer for yourself or for others?
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