Move for MOVEMBER: How the power of the moustache raises awareness for Men's Health

GREETINGS MO BROS and MO SISTAS

Movember, the global movement that raises funds and awareness for men's health. VISIT Movember.com

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We know people in our lives who are fighting cancer with all their might right now at this very minute, while others who can firmly say they have either survived or are in remission, or just holding on and many more who have lost the battle altogether. Cancer is unforgiving and often times relentless. It knows no bounds and holds no prejudices. Sometimes when we think we have beaten the ugly monster, it returns; if it does return, it’s often with a vengeance. Better education, building awareness, learning about effective preventative measures and treatments not to mention taking better care of yourself and each other are all part of the battle process. And it is a battle we should all be fighting to win in a global war on cancer that takes lot of money to conquer.

Movember aims to increase the awareness and early cancer detection, diagnoses and effective treatments to ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths.

Many of us proudly wear symbols on our lapels, shirts and jackets for many causes. There is value to bringing awareness or at least public reminders to the forefront and the color pink and the pink ribbon for example was chosen for breast cancer a long time ago. The pink ribbon does have an interesting history to it, and like all things in “fashion”, times change as do the symbols and the people who adorn them, but the cancers continue to rage on and the victim counts along with it. But through these symbols comes public education and one growing movement born from subculture in Australia has gained tremendous traction these last few years.

Topics like prostate cancer and men’s mental health issues are no laughing matter and like breast cancer, it is not a joyful topic of discussion by any stretch. So to lighten up the topic of cancer we are seeing everyday gents sporting moustaches every November, sharing their stories, inspiring people to participate in local and global fundraising events encouraging preventative education and yes, having some FUN with it.

For one month, hundreds of thousands of men all over the globe have something in common by joining in together and growing a moustache for Movember. There’s mo’ limit to how much money can be raised for awareness of men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and mental health. Mo bro’s and Mo sistas will be partnering with the “Movember” brand to spread this awareness through fundraising efforts to help raise money for men’s health issues, which has now spread to over a hundred countries around the world with almost one million participants. And there’s much Mo’ to it! The Movember Foundation has raised more than $439 million worldwide – during the month of November since 2003 with its moustache-growing contests and other events, currently now in 21 countries. As of 2011 Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation. 

Each year a panel of judges, from the upper echelons of the moustache world, choose one man out of 21 national winners (from a collective of over 1 million Mo's around the world) to be The International Man of Movember. That Mo gets to wear the crown and be the face of Movember for a whole year. Each national Man of Movember winner is voted in at that particular country's main Gala Parté, held at the end of November, by both judges and fans.

In 2007, events were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States. So how does a movement that has grown from its roots in Australia into a worldwide phenomenon bring awareness to such bleak subject matter without saturating us with scary statistics or shocking images? By aiming to forever change the face of men's health through the power of the moustache of course! Social media has been a tremendous mechanism for the Mo’movement reach-out from the world down-under creating ambassadors the planet over with Canada often leading the pack. Their primary message is to encourage men to get annual checkups, be aware of any family history of cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle.

Other than skin cancer, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in American men. About 233,000 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and about 29,480 men will die of the disease. 

Prostate cancer occurs mainly in older men. About 6 cases in 10 are diagnosed in men aged 65 or older, and it is rare before age 40. The average age at the time of diagnosis is about 67. Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in American men, behind only lung cancer. About 1 man in 36 will die of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer can be a serious disease, but most men diagnosed with prostate cancer do not die from it. In fact, more than 2.5 million men in the United States who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point are still alive today. 

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer and the third leading cause of mortality in Canadian men. Canadian Cancer Statistics reported 25,575 new cases of prostate cancer in males and 4,100 prostate cancer related deaths in 2011.

“In 2007, Prostate Cancer Canada (then the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada) was approached by Movember and introduced to the "Mo”.  Unsure of how Canadians would embrace this hairy campaign, the first year saw 2,500 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raise $545,000 across Canada.  Fast forward six years and Movember in 2012 saw over 247,066 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raise over $40 million for prostate cancer and men’s mental health. It’s clear that Canadians are embracing the Moustache and making a difference.”

“Making a difference, that’s exactly what PCC is doing in Canada.  Thanks to the generosity and dedication of Movember participants, Movember has raised over $113 million dollars over the past six years.”

“Men typically shy away from health issues and concerns, so Movember is a means to educate men about prostate cancer and emphasize the importance of taking charge of their health”

“During Movember, the month formerly known as November, men register at Movember.com, start clean shaven and groom and grow their Mo's (Australian slang for moustache) to raise awareness and funds for men’s health. At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas rally together to celebrate their journey at the infamous Gala Partés. In Canada, funds raised support specifically male mental health and prostate cancer, the most common cancer to affect Canadian men.”

“Prostate Cancer Canada is proud to be one of Movember’s Canadian beneficiary partners; through this relationship we are advancing prostate cancer research and support services for men and their families living with the disease.” SOURCE: www.prostatecancer.ca

Mental health issues are one of the largest threats to men’s health

► 1 out of 5 Canadians will experience mental illness in their lifetime and the remaining 4 will have a family member or colleague who will.

► Mental health issues affect over 3.4 million Canadian men and boys each year

► 4 out of 5 suicides among young people in Canada are committed by men

► Only 1 in 3 people who experience a mental health problem or illness — and as few as one in four children or youth — report that they have sought and received services and treatment.

► 1 in 4 cancer patients experience clinical depression

► ► The risk of suicide in men with prostate cancer is over 4 times that of similarly aged men without prostate cancer. Source: http://strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca/the-facts/

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