Movember is an annual, month-long campaign that helps to raise funds and awareness for men's health by encouraging men to grow a moustache and become walking community service billboards.
The Birth of Movember
Movember was born in 2003, in a pub in Melbourne, Australia after a group of men had been inspired by the women's health movement and sought to "change the face of men's health" by encouraging men to engage in their health and talk about the issue.
In Movember's first year, 30 Australian men donned moustaches in a bid to get the nation talking about prostate cancer and depression among men. While the group didn't raise any funds, it certainly raised awareness and five years later, in 2008, more than 173,000 people from Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the US and the UK participated in Movember events across the globe.
To date, more than AU$60 million has been raised for Movember's men's health partners, who raise awareness for and support men living with prostate cancer or depression.
In 2009, the Irish will join the Movember celebrations and help to get men talking about these two "hairy" health issues.
The Rules of Movember
The rules of Movember are pretty straightforward:
- Register online at www.movember.com.
- Start the month clean shaven.
- Raise funds and collect donations for Movember by holding some "hair-raising" events.
- Grow a moustache.
- At the end of Movember, shave the moustache and start thinking about ways to raise money next Movember.
Why Take Part in Movember?
Movember is a main player in the fight against prostate cancer and depression among men.
One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime; one in eight will experience depression. These statistics are staggeringly high. Fortunately however, both prostate cancer and depression can be overcome if they're recognised and tackled early.
Movember seeks to educate men and their partners, daughters, sisters, mothers and others about the health issues that they face and encourages men to speak with a doctor or health professional regularly about any concerns they have.
Can Women Get Involved With Movember?
Woman can take part in Movember by helping out their "Mo Bros" as a registered "Mo Sista." Mo Sistas are charged with providing Mo Bros ongoing support throughout the month of Movember and raising funds and awareness for men's health and the same way their Bros do (without the moutache, of course).
Anyone can take part in Movember as in individual or as part of a team. The Movember Foundation runs several events throughout Movember with the highlight being a Gala Parté at the end of the month, where prizes are awarded to the highest fund raisers in the individual, small team and large team categories. There are also novelty prizes for Man of Movember, Miss Movember and Team Mo Bro - to name a few.
For more information about Movember and men's health go to www.movember.com
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