Moustaches for Movember
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It’s halfway through Movember and moustaches are growing strong.
No, that wasn’t a typo, you read it correctly, I wrote Movember.
For those that are unfamiliar with this strange-but-true term, Movember is a relatively new, but quickly growing event where men across the world grow their moustaches for the month of November to raise awareness and funds to help find a cure for prostate and testicular cancer.
According to my research, the event has been claimed to have been invented in 1999 by a group of Australian men from Adelaide. In an Australian news report, it was stated that members of the Adelaide-based “Movember Committee” explained how they came up with the idea for Movember one night in the pub.
The group was said to have 80 men from Adelaide and interstate involved in the event, and aimed to raise money for the RSPCA through selling T-shirts in what they termed “Growing whiskers for whiskers”.
Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has used Movember to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues in both Australia and New Zealand. Proceeds went towards Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.
Co-founder and CEO of the Movember Foundation, Adam Gerone, has worked hard to drive the creation of a global social movement that has literally changed the face of men’s health.
According to a recent press release, to date, his commitment has raised global awareness and over $51 million for research in support of prostate and testicular cancer. In 2007, the Foundation launched events in Canada, where funds raised went to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada.
I have already noticed that many of my Australian friends have some very interesting looking moustaches appearing on their faces. They all tell me that it’s a great Australian tradition.
It’s already half way through the month guys, so if you haven’t started your moustache yet, get growing! It’s a great cause and with the weather getting quite chilly lately, it’s also a great way to keep your upper lip safe and warm from old man winter!
