You may notice a lot more men sporting mustaches this November. You may think something is going on. And you would be right. November is also Movember, a month where men are encouraged to celebrate their manhood and draw attention to men’s health issues by growing their mustaches. So you’re not wrong if you notice a lot of hair under the noses of men you’ll know why.
Movember started out as a challenge between some buddies in 2003 in Australia and has since then grown into a global movement led by the Movember Foundation that has dedicated itself to solving men’s health issues. According to their website,
“That’s why we’re taking action. We’re the only charity tackling men’s health on a global scale, year round. We’re addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
We know what works for men, and how to find and fund the most innovative research to have both a global and local impact. We’re independent of government funding, so we can challenge the status quo and invest quicker in what works. In 13 years we’ve funded more than 1,200 men’s health projects around the world.”
The mustache became the symbol of Movember, one month picked out of the calendar to put a special visual symbol out there, not unlike the color pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was just a symbol and gesture the founders did back in 2003 that quickly spread through Australia and out to the rest of the world.
Since it’s humble beginnings the Movember Foundation has funded more than 1200 health projects, worked with more than 20 health partners and been active in more than 21 countries.
Adam Garone, Executive Director of the Foundation and Chief Mo Bro as they call themselves said this about their work:
“We work closely with our global men’s health partners to ensure collaboration, transparency and accountability for every project we fund. We monitor this through report cards which detail what we seek to achieve, key measures and the impact.”
Participating in Movember is easy, men can sign up on the site, wwww.movember.com, or just grow a mustache for the month, any style they choose, to show support and draw attention to the issue and movement. There are a few rules though. They are:
Begin the 1st of November with a clean shave.
For the whole of the month you must grow and groom you mustache.
Another way to support the cause is to donate money or simply move, as in be physically active more than you might ordinarily during the month of November. It’s a way for women, families and even men who may not be inclined or able to grow a mustache can also support the cause.
So get going on those mustaches guys. And ladies and families get moving. Men’s health depends on it.
