Movember 2006!

jono · #1 (**permalink**) Oct 09, 06

Movember 2006 is Fast Approaching!

What is movember?

Movember is a charity fundraiser event that takes place in November. It's a little different, and a whole lot more awesome, then a lot of charity events though. The goal of Movember is to raise awareness and money for men's health issues... BY GROWING MOUSTACHES!

How could growing a moustache (a 'Mo') possibly raise money for men's health issues?

Men start the month with a clean shaven face. Before and during the month of November participants ask friends, family, co-workers and the like to sponsor their moustache. The sponsorship funds are then donated to a charity that deals with issues of men's health.

What men's health issues will we be supporting?

Movember events around the world have typically supported charities dealing with issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer and male depression. This is a pretty large scale event in Australia, The UK and Ireland, New Zealand and Singapore. Seeing as it is a new event to Canada I will be starting pretty small and focusing on one charity The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. I chose this foundation because they deal specifically in a men's health issue, there is an easy way to donate on their website and because 1 in 7 men are expected to be diagnosed of prostate cancer in their lifetime and 1 in 26 will die of the disease.

Why specifically men's health issues?

Typically men's health issues go unnoticed and undiagnosed because a lot of men simply don't go to the doctor enough. Men need to realize that their health is important and prostate cancer (and other diseases) are very real and can effect them and their loved ones. Movember is an easy way to garner awareness about these diseases and an excuse to grow a sweet moustache.

What will I be doing during Movember and what can you do to help?

As I said before, Movember is a new event to Canada (unless anyone knows of a similar event and can point me in the right direction) so I will be starting small and simple. I will be growing a moustache from November 1st to November 30th and speaking to people I know about giving donations. They can either give donations to me and I will donate the lump sum at the end of the month here. Or I will direct them to the website (www.prostatecancer.ca) and they can follow the link at the top of the page and make the donation themselves.

Education is also a key component of this event. Learning about issues that effect men's health and passing this information on is incredibly valuable. Directing people to the links on The Canadian Cancer Society's website such as testicular cancer, prostate cancer or The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada's website will help spread awareness and even doing a quick search about relavent issues can help gain knowledge.

Guys: If you want to participate all you have to do is GROW A MO and ask people for donations or tell them how they can donate themselves. Or support friends and convince them to GROW A MO. I have attached a spreadsheet that I will be attaching to an envelope to collect donations and to keep in touch with people who donate.

Girls: Support your Mo-bros! If you see a guy with SWEET (creepy?) moustache don't shy away in disgust, educate, donate and tell them what they can do to participate!

Follow up

For everyone who shows their support, donates or wants to see how my Mo is coming along. I'll get their e-mail and send them pictoral updates on my awesome moustache. I will also send a post-movember note out on how we did and ideas that I have gathered for next year.

Links (as if I didn't hyperlink enough)

The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada
Donations to The Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada
The Canadian Cancer Society
Testicular Cancer
Prostate Cancer

Movember Australia (Great link with tons of info on how big this event could get)

If I missed anything or you have any questions feel free to email me ([email protected])

Let's grow those Mo's!

Jon