Movember: Growing for a Cause

It was back in 2003 when Australian friends Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, inspired by their conversations around trying to grow a moustache, set off on a journey to grow some serious fuzz atop their upper lips. The next year they decided to turn their mission into a charitable effort, with its 30 founding members, by then known as the Movember Foundation, helping raise almost $50,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).

Since then, Movember has gradually become a global phenomenon, with participants from Australia, the UK, Canada and the US leading the charge, raking in massive amounts of money for men’s health causes including prostate and testicular cancers, as well as male suicide, and in turn encouraging men of all generations to be more aware of their own ancestral histories of the deadly condition and mental health.

What Is Movember?

Movember is all about encouraging men to grow moustaches throughout the month of November as a visible way to spark conversations and promote awareness. The campaign plays on the idea that a simple, eye-catching moustache can serve as a conversation starter, breaking the taboo around men's health topics, which are often under-discussed. Many men will also fundraise, with the donations going to numerous men’s charities around the world.

So How Does It Actually Work In Practice?

Movember is centred around a few simple rules and guidelines, making it easy for anyone willing to participate.

1. Grow a Mo: As to be expected, the most iconic part of Movember is the moustache. Men begin the month clean-shaven and commit to growing their moustache for 30 days. The rule is simple: no beards allowed—only the Mo! Participants often post updates on social media to share their progress, encouraging others to donate to the cause or join in.
2. Move for Movember: In addition to growing facial hair, another way to get involved is through the "Move" initiative. Participants commit to walking, running or moving for a total of 60 kilometres over the course of the month, representing the 60 men lost to suicide each hour, globally. The focus here is on staying physically active, supporting not just mental but also physical health.
3. Host a Mo-Ment: Fundraising can also take the form of social events or activities that spread awareness. These can range from moustache-themed parties, barbecues or trivia nights to virtual meet-ups.
   

Interested? Be sure to sign up at the official Movember website and create a profile where you can document your progress, join teams and collect donations from friends, family and supporters.

Why Movember Matters

Around the globe, a man loses his life to suicide every minute, with men representing 69 percent of all suicide cases. Alongside this, more men are living with prostate cancer diagnoses, and testicular cancer continues to be the most prevalent cancer among young men. Despite these concerning statistics that highlight the men’s health crisis, there is still a significant stigma surrounding discussions on these issues, with many reluctant to talk about their physical or mental health, often due to societal pressures or stigma around vulnerability. Movember is all about changing that, and by 2023, it had raised more than $1 billion globally, funding over 1,250 men's health projects.

The Best Celebrity Moustaches Of All Time

This should provide all the inspiration you need this Movember…