November is here, the month when we give thanks for all of our blessings - and start getting ready for the Christmas season, of course! Of the many things that you’re thankful for, there’s no doubt that good health is high on the list.
What better way for men to share their gratitude for good health and to raise awareness for the good health of other men than by growing out their mustaches? Have you heard the term "Movember" but weren't aware of what it was about?
What is Movember?
Well, that’s exactly what Movember (or No Shave November) is all about! You have probably seen these terms on your social media newsfeed and you’re wondering what it’s all about. Maybe you're looking for a way to do something meaningful during the month of Thanks.
Read on to learn more about Movember, including what it is exactly, and how you can participate.
Movember Explained
In Movember, people encourage men to grow a mustache during the month of November. This annual event was the brainchild of the Movember Foundation. The Movember campaign aims to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer, depression, and suicide in men.
The intention of this charity event is to “change the face of men’s health". The phrase is both literal and figurative. Men who don't normally have mustaches are growing them, and men who usually have mustaches are growing them even longer.
Raising Awareness - Early Detection is the Key
By encouraging men (who are dubbed “Mo Bros” or Movember Men) to take part in Movember, the charity event hopes to encourage more people to take their health seriously. It focuses on early detection and treatment for ailments that plague men. It raises hopes that the number of preventable deaths will ultimately be reduced and men can live happier and healthier lives.
In addition to annual medical check-ups, the Movember Foundation prompts men to learn about their family history of health-related issues. For example, prostate cancer and testicular cancer, depression, and anxiety. Movember also aims to help men let go of unhealthy habits and start adopting lifestyle changes that will ultimately increase their overall mental and physical health and well-being.
The Movember Foundation uses the mustache as the focal symbol of their movement, and it focuses on these primary areas:
- Testicular cancer
- Prostate cancer
- Mental health and suicide prevention
Past Successes of the Movember Foundation
The Movember Foundation was launched in 2004. That year, the charity event held events in New Zealand and Australia to raise awareness and funds for men’s health-related issues, such as depression and prostate cancer.
Three years later, in 2007, Movember events expanded to Ireland, Denmark, Canada, Spain, El Salvador, the United Kingdom, Czech Republic, as well as South Africa, Israel, Taiwan, and the United States.
In 2010, the Movember Foundation and Tacheback, a UK charitable event, joined forces. Canadians topped the charts as the biggest contributors to Movember charities in 2011.
Two years later, the Movember Foundation was listed as one of the top 100 non-government organizations (NGOs).
History of Movember
In 1999, the Australian news program Seven Nightly News aired a story about a group of men from Adelaide who shared their idea for growing mustaches to raise awareness for a men's health charity for the entire month of November.
The group coined the term “Movember”. The group began with 80 Adelaide men. It wasn’t long after their story aired on the news that the news spread and men around the country began to participate in the charity event.
In 2004, a completely unrelated Melbourne-based group planned an event in which 30 men grew their mustaches for 30 days to raise awareness for prostate cancer and mental health (depression). The following year, almost 500 people raised the largest donation the foundation had ever received. More than $40,000 was raised for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. The group would later become the Movember Foundation Charity and received charity status in Australia.
After spreading to Europe, South Africa, and North America, the Movember Foundation has raised more than $174 million worldwide for men’s health awareness and prostate cancer research.
The group was granted charity status in the US, and in 2010, American participants alone raised more than $7.5 million. In 2012, an estimated 1.1 million people signed up to participate and raised a staggering $95 million.
Additional Information: 'Movember' means mighty mustaches and men's health - USA Today
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