Sarah Sobanski
Long hair, beards and moustaches have all made a comeback in the last few years, but let’s not give all the credit to hipsters. Out and about this month, you might notice a little less chin hair, and a lot more upper lip fuzz, as men across the country race to grow moustaches in the name of raising awareness for men’s health.
Started in 2003, the Movember Foundation has raised $667 million and funded over 1,000 programs focusing on male-specific health issues including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and physical inactivity. Being sponsored by friends, family and their significant others who deal with a month of lip burn, any motivated man can sign up with the foundation and grow their ‘mo’ for ‘Movember’ – from handle-bars to the kind villains` twirl. This year also features a MOVE challenge, where those who can’t grow a moustache can show their support by committing to a physical activity challenge they set for themselves – like 102.1 the Edge’s Melani Mariani who has pledged to do 500 squats a week.
Further inspiration to become a ‘Mo Bro’ or ‘Mo Sista’:
- 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetimes – that’s 24,000 in 2015, 4,100 who will lose their battle [Prostate Cancer Canada].
- Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide, with more than 1.1 million cases recorded in 2012 [Movember Foundation].
- The number of men with prostate cancer will double by 2030 [Prostate Cancer Canada].
- The most common form of cancer between men ages 15 to 34 is testicular cancer [Testicular Cancer Canada].
- 1 in 10 Canadian men will experience a period of major depression, 7 take their life each day [Movember Foundation].
- Out of 4 suicidal deaths, 3 will be men [Movember Foundation].
- Men aged 35 and over have higher obesity rates than women and these rates have increased more in men over the years than in women [Statistics Canada].
It’s never too late to start growing – just don’t shave – or moving. Check out the Movember Foundation’s website and help look out for our boys. We want to see your moustaches and hear about your pledge challenges here at the Times! Send your stories and photos to thetimes@nexicom.net or find us on The Millbrook Times Facebook page.
