Since 2003, the ‘N’ in November has been replaced with an ‘M’. Men the world over hide their upper lips with facial hair in a bid to raise awareness about men’s health. This year, The Best You encourages you to join the trend.
The Movember Foundation is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. We achieve this by challenging men to grow moustaches during Movember (the month formerly known as November) to spark conversation and raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.
Since Movember’s humble beginnings in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, when 30 men grew moustaches, Movember has become a truly global movement, inspiring more than four million men and women to participate across 21 countries. The Movember community has raised over £345 million and has funded more than 800 programmes to date. This work is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.
Men start November 1st clean-shaven and grow their moustaches for 30 days, getting friends, family and colleagues to donate to their moustache-growing efforts. Men with their new moustaches (also known as Mo Bros) become walking, talking billboards. Similar to a charity run or walk, Mo Bros use their hairy ribbon to spark conversations around the often-ignored issue of men’s health and seek to raise funds to support the work of the Movember Foundation.
Movember is not just for men. Women who support men’s health, known as Mo Sistas, are an important part of Movember’s success. They get involved in the same way as men, except they don’t need to grow a moustache. They sign up at Movember.com, start a team, and recruit the men in their lives to participate, donate, fundraise, plan and participate in events. Most importantly, they rally the men they know to join the movement, grow moustaches and have important conversations about men’s health.
“Our vision is to have an everlasting impact on men’s health”, said Sarah Coghlan, UK Director for Movember. “The Movember moustache puts a fun twist on this serious issue. We encourage Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to sign up at Movember.com, grow and support awesome moustaches, and raise crucial awareness and funds to address the most pressing issues in prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health. We look forward to seeing our communities having open conversations with friends, family and colleagues about their health in 2014, and making it the hairiest Movember yet!”
Meaningful strides have been taken toward achieving our goals, but there is more work to be done. Each of the causes we support remains in desperate need of further funding, and the issue continues to be one that men are often uncomfortable discussing. We’re committed to raising vital funds and awareness to improve the lives of men and their families. Sign up at movember.com to join the movement and have an lasting impact on the face of men’s health.
If you want to join the trend, all you need to do is sign up at Movember.com and start growing your moustache.
