November is upon us, and with it comes an increase in facial hair and men’s health awareness. Starting off with a clean shaven face on November 1st, some men have begun their hair growing, awareness raising moustaches to support Prostate and Testicular Cancer as well as Mental Health.
There will be several events going on around the college thoughout the month to support the cause. Massages will be given every Monday to students who are participating in Movember. If you have a moustache, you’ll get a free massage. This event is open to women as well, with a donation.
Purely Inspired was also involved with the LCSA on November 4th by getting faces ready by shaving off facial hair in The Cave. There will also be a Stache Bash on Nov. 27 in The Cave, with live music by Hurtin.
Movember isn’t just about sporting a stache. “We want to promote our team as much as possible and build community in the school. Like when you see someone with a moustache in the hallway and you say ‘hey man great stache,’” explains Tanner Marcer.
One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. This year, 23,600 Canadian men will be diagnosed and 4,000 will die according to the Movember campaign’s annual report.
The goals of Movember are to raise funds for men’s health foundations and to get people talking about health risks men face. This month is a reminder for men to take action, get checked for cancer or talk to someone about their mental health.
By starting with only 30 “Mo Bros” in Australia in 2003, Movember has successfully reached the world growing to 969,181 participants globally. The campaign has been very effective, considering November is often reffered to as Movember. Last year 75 percent of participants said they became ‘more aware’ of the health issues they face, and 62 percent went to see a medical professional about their health. Since the beginning of the campaign, 770 men’s health projects have been funded.
Canada has been among the top Movember fundraising countries for the last three years. Since joining the campaign in 2007 a total of 574 million dollars have been raised.
One moustache, donation and conversation at a time, Movember is changing the face of men’s health.