Movember 2010

Movember – Grow a MO, save a BRO

Movember is a charity event to raise money, and more importantly awareness, of prostate cancer. A very worrying statistic is that prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK and on average one man every hour in the UK dies from prostate cancer. A group of us from the UK are getting together this year to try and help in the best way we can…. It's time to Man up and grow some comedy facial fuzz!!!!

The 'Team'
Currently a group of individuals have pledged their support to become a 'Mo Bro' or a 'Mo Sista'. We have a team website located at uk.movember.com/mospace/538628/ where you can join the team, whether you are growing a Mo or not, or donate using the links on the page itself. We feel that looking silly is a small price to pay for this cause. You will be able to see regular pictorial updates from each member of the team (we plan to at least put on one new photo a week) and the state of their Mo. As the Mo is a very personal thing, there will be a selection of different ones grown, each to their own taste (although suggestions will be gladly received!!!)

History of 'Movember'
The Mo, slang for moustache, and November come together each year for Movember. Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days. The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia. The plan was simple – to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men’s health. No money was raised in 2003, but the guys behind the Mo realized the potential a moustache had in generating conversations about men’s health. Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement. In 2004 the campaign evolved and focused on raising awareness and funds for the number one cancer affecting men – prostate cancer. 432 Mo Bros joined the movement that year, raising $55,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia – representing the single largest donation they had ever received. The Movember moustache has grown year on year since then, expanding to the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Ireland, Spain, South Africa, The Netherlands and Finland. In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255,755, with over one million donors raising £26 Million (GBP equivalent) for Movember’s global beneficiary partners. The funds raised through Movember’s UK campaign benefit The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC), the UK’s leading prostate cancer charity. The money raised as a result of Movember is channelled by our men’s health partner into a number of world class and innovative education, support, research and awareness initiatives. The success of Movember can be directly attributed to the more than 627,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who have supported our cause since 2003. Movember is sincerely grateful for their efforts and appreciate all they do. For those of you new to Movember, we challenge you to join us in changing the face of men's health. For detailed information about the Movember Foundation, financial and annual reports, men’s health, the programs being funded and the social impact Movember is having please visit: www.movember.com Remember, feel free to donate or join the team at uk.movember.com/mospace/538628/ You will be able to get a laugh from the photographical updates from each member of the team (we plan to at least put on one new photo a week) and the state of their Mo. The link above would be donating towards the UK's The Prostate Cancer Charity, if you wish to donate to a different region/country, please go to www.movember.com and it will direct you to the appropriate links

The preparation
Every man deserves to have a little luxury, so the preparation for Movember is little in the way of hardcore training, treadmills, Boxercise or the like. However, one must prepare one self for constant ridicule during the month of Movember - Personally mine goes a little ginger when it gets longer….. Oh dear! Seriously though, this isn't as easy as sitting in a bath of beans for six hours or jumping out of a plane with a sheet strapped to your back, it's a major commitment in your life.

The challenge
The rules of Movember
Breach of these rules constitutes disqualification from Movember

1. - Once registered at Movember.com, each Mo Bro must begin November 1st with a clean shaven face
2. - Then, for the entire month of Movember, each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache
3. - There is no joining at the sideburns, this is a beard
4. - There is no joining of the handlebars to your chin, this is a goatee.
5. - Each Mo Bro must conduct himself like that of a true gentlemen.

A little inspiration for any budding Moustachios out there!

The motivation
What could any man ask for more than the luxury in life of growing a Mo? The ultimate in 'gentlemen chic', this sure way to attract the ladies and to make other men jealous has long been the way to take one step above the general populations and to live like a modern day king. You would be amazed at the looks and deferential treatment that comes with a Mo. Remember….. What sort of man grows a Mo? He is a natural born leader. He steps up, shines and leads with confidence. He is selfless and believes looking out for your fellow gentlemen is something you do, not something you must do. He is only content when all are content. Thanks for taking the time to read and please pass on to any other people you think might be interested Mark and all the other members of the 'GCS Mo' team (and on behalf of all the guys out there)

Want some ideas? Take a look at the style guide - Click here

Click to enlarge