Movember: How growing a moustache is changing the face of men’s health
It’s that time of year again when men
across the country attempt to grow out their facial hair (with varying degrees
of success) in the name of Movember. And whilst it might be amusing to watch as
your best mate tries in vain to get past the fluffy and patchy phase of his ‘moustache’,
it’s important to recognise that Movember is a serious campaign that is about
much more than facial hair.
The
Movember Movement
When two Australian friends decided to
grow moustaches in aid of charity back in 2003, it’s unlikely they had any idea
that the 28-other original ‘Mo Bros’ they enlisted would go on to become a global
community of 5 million
by 2016. With such a vast following, the Movember movement now aims to reduce
the number of men dying prematurely worldwide by 25% in 2030.
So why the moustache? As a symbol of
power, manliness and maturity, it perfectly captures the heart of the campaign,
whilst embracing the fun side of the movement and uniting men across the world.
Movember actively encourages fundraisers to get creative with their facial
hair, and offer iconic and classic moustache style inspiration for those in
need of a mens grooming guide.
But this year, it seems the Movember
team’s efforts are growing beyond the moustache, as they step things up a gear and
expand their campaigns. Not only are they now asking the public directly for
donations for the first time, but supporters who have been unable to join in
previously can now opt to ‘Move for Movember’ by taking part in a physical
challenge, or even host an event to raise money.
Why
is this work so important?
Ultimately, Movember wants to raise
awareness around men’s health in order to remove some of the stigma and
embarrassment that often prevents them from seeking help. By changing men’s
attitudes to talking about health issues like prostate and testicular cancer,
Movember aims to increase early detection, and improve treatment and survival
rates worldwide.
Equally as vital is their work in mental
health and suicide prevention, and with a recent report by Samaritans revealing that male suicide rates in the
UK and Republic of Ireland are 3 times higher than women, it is clear this work
is more crucial than ever.
But with such a strong community, it
looks like the Movember campaign won’t be going anywhere fast, which is a
fantastic thing for the state of men’s health worldwide.
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