Happy November folks! Or should I say MOvember. 5 days ago I would have had no idea what Movember was, other than an obvious typo since M is next to N on the keyboard. However, being the resourceful gal that I am, after I saw the typo more than once, I googled. Google never leads one astray, and I soon learned what I am going to share with you about the awesomeness of Movember.
Movember= Moustache + November.
According to the website Movember.com:
“The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember.
Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.
The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia. The plan was simple – to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men’s health. No money was raised in 2003, but the guys behind the Mo realized the potential a moustache had in generating conversations about men’s health. Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement.
In 2004 the campaign evolved and focused on raising awareness and funds for the number one cancer affecting men – prostate cancer. 432 Mo Bros joined the movement that year, raising $55,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia – representing the single largest donation they had ever received.
The Movember moustache has continued to grow year after year, expanding to the US, UK, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands and Finland.
In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising $42 Million US equivalent dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners.”
As a fan of facial hair in any form on men, and because it is a great cause, I became a fast fan of Movember. Afterall, the men support us ladies so well during Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October (something about seeing NFL players wearing Barbie-pink I just loved!), so now I see it as our duty, or at least my duty, to support the men. However, since it isn’t possible for me to grow a moustache, I will volunteer my help towards this wonderful cause by bringing awareness to others about the cause. My friend Nate asked me to put a link on my blog to his Movember page where people can donate, and it inspired me to make it bigger. I posted on my Facebook wall a call to my man friends: if you’re participating, send me pictures and information! My goal is to compile this blog post of actual men that you may know and may not know who are participating in this, actually doing something. I took the idea one step further, and messaged men around the world via twitter and the hashtag #movember to send me information too. Throughout the month, I will be updating on these guys’ hilarious and awesome, hopefully sexy Mos, and hopefully in the process raising awareness and some real bucks for the cause.
Oh, and if you’re wondering what your face fuzz and dollars are going to support, the website breaks it down:
“The funds raised through Movember’s US campaign benefit the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.
The PCF uses the money raised by Movember to fund research that is accelerating the discovery of better treatments and ultimately finding a cure for prostate cancer. One such program is the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center’s research, which has recently made a significant breakthrough. They identified 24 different kinds of prostate cancer and how aggressive each is. This should enable scientists to soon be able to answer the agonizing question facing men with prostate cancer: does their cancer need immediate treatment, and if so what is the best treatment, or can it be left alone?
LIVESTRONG uses the money raised by Movember to fund important programs to support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer. These programs include:
• Fertile Hope, an initiative dedicated to providing reproductive information, support and hope to cancer patients and survivors whose medical treatments present the risk of infertility.
• My Planet, an online community of peer support that allows young adults to find and communicate with other young adults whose lives have been affected by cancer.
• Continuing Nursing Education program on Young Adult Cancer Survivorship. LIVESTRONG encourage nurses to know the warning signs of cancer, understand what types of cancer for which young adults may be at risk, and learn about cancer screening.
The success of Movember can be directly attributed to the more than 627,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who have supported our cause since 2003. Movember is sincerely grateful for their efforts and appreciates all they do.”
SO… now what you all have been waiting for… THE MEN!
First up, the man who inspired me:
Nate M.
Movember Start
“So it all started with an email from [my friend] Justin. He said he stumbled across the site and was wondering if I or the other 20+ people he sent it to wanted to do it. I clicked the link and checked it out, and immediately was floored by some of the statistics i was reading.
– prostate cancer strikes 1 in 6 men in their lifetime
– testicular cancer is the most common cancer men aged 18-35
– In 2010, more than 32k men will die as a direct result of prostate cancer.
I first thought the idea of the mustache was novel and was mostly a joke, but as i read on i realized that the mo’ was a conversation starter, and a way to bring up the subjects of prostate cancer and testicular cancer, as well as a way to draw in donations for the prostate cancer foundation and livestrong to fund male cancer research.
I myself will probably grow a pretty pathetic mustache since i have very thin facial hair, but if it means having a hobo stache is the hardest part i have to endure to further research in cancers that affect so many fellow men, i think its too easy a job to pass up.
So i told Justin I’d do it, and posted it to my Facebook. While the team has grown to 4 members as of now, I want to see it grow further with local support. I want mo sistas (like yourself) to join our team “Legendhairy” and try to bring about more awareness for these cancers. I am sending you this email in hopes that you help spread the word via your blog and other avenues. Donations of any amount are encouraged as they will benefit livestrong and the prostate research foundation directly. Thanks Liz, i hope to see your support and the support of your friends/fans all month 🙂 Here’s the link to my movember page, from which you can donate to myself which directly benefits our team and earlier mentioned organizations. “
Here is a link for Nate M.’s donation page for Team Legendhairy:
http://us.movemeber.com/mospace/943124/
Oscar L.
Movember Start
“Have always been a fan of growing facial hair just need inspiration to grow. With being such an understated issue in the male society and health and fitness being such a big part of my life. It is super important for me to raise awareness to this cancer epidemic claiming such a large percentage of men.”
Here is a link for Oscar L.’s donation page for Team Legendhairy:
http://us.movember.com/mospace/1024490/
Justin R.
Movember Start
Movember Start
“This Mo-vember I’ve decided to donate my face to raising awareness about cancers that affect men.
My commitment is the growth of a mustache (or lack thereof) for the entire month of Mo-vember, which I know will generate conversation, controversy, and laughter.
My friend Nate and I started a team to get as many donations as possible to support men’s cancers.
We’re doing this because:
· 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in his lifetime
· 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime
This is a cause that I feel passionately about and I’m asking you to support my efforts by making a donation to support the great work of the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. To help, you can either:
– Join mine and Nate’s team and grow a mustache with us!! (http://us.movember.com/mospace/943124/)
– Click on my direct link http://us.movember.com/mospace/1000146/ and donate online using your credit card or PayPal account
– Write a check (see attached) payable to Movember, referencing my name or Registration Number #1000146 and mailing it to: Movember, PO Box 2726 , Venice , CA 90294-2726
The money raised will help make a tangible difference to the lives of others, through the world’s most promising prostate cancer research and LIVESTRONG’s programs that support young adults and their families battling and surviving cancer.”
Here is a link for Justin R.’s donation page for Team Legendhairy:
http://us.movember.com/mospace/1000146/
Dan M.
Movember Start
“I’m just trying to support a good cause. Hitting my age, there are things that guys need to be concerned about. Heck, even the younger ones can fall prey to a sense of youthful casualness about their health. The thing is, you never really know you have cancer until it’s too late. Better to get checked out as a matter of routine than to lament missing it in hind sight (no pun intended).
I grow a might dismal mustachio but I figure I’ll lump it (again with the puns) for a month.”
Here is a link for Dan M.’s donation page for Team Legendhairy:
http://us.movember.com/mospace/1001822/
Brian W.
Movember Start
“I’m a 27 year old medical professional who is doing this to both bring awareness to prostate cancer and to sport a sweet ‘stache. I don’t really have any risk factors for developing the disease, but I feel it’s my job as a man and as a medical professional to help bring awareness to it. I see plenty of patients that have gone through surgery and treatments for prostate problems. So this ugly mo is my salute to them and to remind myself about prostate health.”
Travis T.
Movember Start
Justin P.
Movember Start
Christian N.
Movember Start
“I’m a web designer by trade and I currently teach in the Digital Media and IT program at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. I wanted to help raise money for prostate cancer research because I’ve felt the effects of cancer within my own family very recently. As well, the father of a friend of mine just passed away from cancer after being diagnosed a few short weeks ago. The effect this disease can have on an individual and a family is devastating.
Movember is a fun way to help raise money to battle prostate cancer in men. If I can raise money AND have an excuse to wear a moustache for a month – I mean, come on, it’s a no brainer!”
Sean B.
Movember Start
“My reasoning for participation is pretty simple. Huge charitable organizations get much of the spotlight today – but, smaller/lesser known causes like this can have a powerful impact in the lives of the people they serve and they desperately need a voice. The Movember movement is growing – I am just trying to lend my voice to help get the word out.”
Sean also created this typographic poster and is looking for a screenprinter to get a limited edition run printed and sold so we can donate the proceeds. Contact him via Twitter if interested in this. twitter.com/seanbell
Here is a link for Sean B.’s donation page:
http://us.movember.com/mospace/853356/
Tom S.
Movember Start
Movember Start
“I head Tom Stables Creative (creative web, graphic and social media design), co-founded Social Subversion (social media consultancy and workshops – in fact, Nathaniel Cassidy, the other co-founder is in our Movember team. Sports a fine gentleman’s pose!) and also currently lecture at the University of Central Lancashire in Online Reputation Management.
A bit about why Movember – a fun way to raise money, that’ll get people talking, asking questions and raising awareness which ultimately, is as important as raising money. Cancer has directly affected my family’s life and stuck it’s nosey fucking beak in where it wasn’t wanted or needed – grandparents, aunties, uncles, it’s a charitable cause that’s close to my heart.
My Mo-Space http://uk.movember.com/mospace/963312
My Facebook Page (also with daily Mo updates) www.facebook.com/tomstablescreative”
Here is a link for Tom S.’s donation page:
ttp://uk.movember.com/mospace/963312
Eric C.
Movember Start
“I support Movember cause I watched cancer shrink my father figure/best friend/man who took me after I left home from a healthy 6’2″ 200lbs guy to 140lbs and kill him in 5 months. It shrank the time we had together from years to months to days to finally hours and seconds. That’s what cancer does, it shrinks things. It took him, shrunk his life down to nothing and turned him into Darth Vader in those last hours, breathing only through a ventilator. I’ve attached the before picture.”
Russ S.
Movember Start
“I run marketing for an eCommerce video startup called Invodo in Austin, Texas. Variations on the formal work bio are here or here. But they’re probably not that interesting other than to observe that I’m a technology marketer who, after a number of years in large companies (Dell, Dun & Bradstreet, etc) found a passion for startups. And for video. And for this particular team. Proof of that is here…I’m the guy in the blond wig destroying the keyboard. We do a lot of video – we also did this one featuring Movember’s Team Austin.
Beyond the work stuff I’m a husband and a father. I’ve been fortunate in that my life hasn’t been closely touched by men’s cancers. But my number could be up anytime. I just turned fifty, prime age for such diagnoses. And my son Joe is three. I’d like to see him live a long, healthy life without having to worry about cancer. Since one in two men are diagnosed with cancer at some point, either he or I are likely to face it. So that’s why.
And I’d be derelict in my duty if I didn’t point out that my Mo space is here. Folks are welcome to join Team Austin (whether they live here or not), donate, or just comment on the silliness that is sprouting on my upper lip.”
Here is a link for Russ S.’s donation page:
http://us.movember.com/mospace/562356/
Eric W.
See Eric’s reasons for participating and read his blog about Movember here: Eric W.’s Blog
David M.
Movember Start
See David’s reasons for participating and read his blog about Movember here: David M.’s Blog
Thanks to all the awesome men who are participating in Movember! I will be posting updates every week throughout Movember so please subscribe to my blog or follow it to see how these sweet ‘staches will grow! If you or any of your friends want to join the updates, please send pictures to my email at elizabeth.atkins@ymail.com.
And please donate to a good cause by going to my Team’s profile (Team LegendHairy) here and follow us on Twitter here @TeamLegendHairy.
Make sure to comment on this blog and upcoming blogs on who is growing the sweetest Mo!
Related Articles
- It’s the First of Movember! (pr-squared.com)
- Movember Is On (onemann.blogspot.com)
- Movember – Grow Your Mo For Prostate Cancer Awareness (activerain.com)
Twentysomething Life 