This November, the Movember Foundation returns with its annual month-long fundraiser challenging men across the UK to grow a moustache to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues.
Now in its 11th year in the UK, millions of men around the world are encouraged to embrace their handlebars, wisps and everything in-between. Whether flying the flag solo, joining up with friends, work colleagues, sports clubs, schools or universities, growing a moustache is the homegrown version of wearing a ribbon.
To date, through the moustaches grown, connections created, and conversations generated, the Movember Foundation has proudly welcomed over five million supporters and helped fund 1,200 innovative men’s health projects across twenty countries. But there is still much work to be done.
In the UK, the stats are shocking – one in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and there are more 333,000 living with the disease. Twelve men a day take their own life, and three out of four suicides are by men. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men and although in most cases the outcome for men with testicular cancer is positive, a 95% chance of survival is no comfort to the one man in twenty who won’t make it.
When it comes to their health, too many men don’t feel like they have the support to talk, don’t act, and die too young.
Men who are planning to join in with Movember should register at www.movember.com and start with a cleanly shaven face at the beginning of the month. After that, it’s as simple as letting a ‘Mo’ grow for the rest of the month, whilst asking for donations. Funds will go on to invest in four key areas: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Those who are follicly challenged can alternatively choose to ‘Move a Mo-ment’ to support the charity this year. Participants will need to run or walk 60 kilometres over the month. That’s 60 kilometres for the 60 men we lose to suicide each hour, every hour. There is also the opportunity to ‘Host a Mo-ment’ by organising a get-together to raise much-needed funds for men’s health.
The Movember Foundation is the leading charity dedicated to changing the face of men’s health in the UK and around the world. The foundation recognise that men are dying six years earlier than women due to common health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide. The foundation is aiming to reduce the number of men dying too young by 25% by 2030.
