Today let's celebrate Movember, a brilliant campaign to raise awareness for men's health. After a month of Pink-Pink-Pink, it's refreshing to watch the men in our lives burst out those moustaches as a reminder that they have cancers to conquer, too.
In case you need a quick reminder, here's the explanation from the US Movember FAQ page: "The Movember Foundation is the leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health. We achieve this by challenging men to grow, and women to support, moustaches during Movember (the month formerly known as November) to spark conversation and raise funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems."
It's no secret that I'm not usually a fan of moustaches. But come Movember, here are three reasons for me to put my bias aside for thirty days:
1. Finally, men have a way to talk about male cancers. By signing up to join the Mo Bros, guys are able to raise money--and awareness--for diseases that have only been mumbled about. This is serious stuff:
- 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime
- Prostate cancer is the 2nd most common cancer in men in the U.S.
- Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-35 years
2. Movember also shines a light into the dark tunnel of mental illness. Men may act brave and strut their macho selves around, denying their need to seek help:
- 1 in 4 adults will experience a mental health problem in a given year
- 15 million American adults are diagnosed with depression each year
- More than four times as many men as women die by suicide in the U.S.
3. Movember is fun! What a super way to approach men's health! Even the rules are clever: "Shave the Date." Look at some of the events and promotions:
- Check out the style guide to choose your mo for the month. Will it be Regent, Box Car, or Rock Star?
- Raise $100 and get a free ticket to your nearly Gala Parté. After a month of raising funds and awareness for men’s health, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (women who support their men during Movember) around the globe end the month in style at an official celebration.
- Research gets funded. Almost $600, 000 raised! Click here to read about the studies made possible by Movember.
We all have men in our lives who are dearly important to us. Right now, men live an average of five years less than women. Let's ALL work to make male lives healthier and happier, shall we?
Are you a 2014 Mo Bro? Let us know: [email protected].
Want to send a check to to support Movember?
Movember
P.O. Box 1595
Culver City, CA
90232
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