Movember: Men’s Health Awareness Month

If you’ve noticed an increase in the number of men sporting moustaches, it’s not just due to old trends coming back into style. November is men’s health awareness month, and the Movember Foundation helps to “change the face of men’s health” by spreading awareness about prostate cancer, testicular cancer, men’s mental health & suicide prevention. Movember has come a long way from an idea that arose between two friends at a pub in Melbourne. Since the Foundation’s inception in 2003, over $837 million dollars has been raised funding over 1,200 projects, in more than 20 countries.

1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer within their lifetime. 

The Movember Foundation raises funds in order to aid in the research, detection, and treatment of prostate & testicular cancer. With over 28 variants of prostate cancer, treatments and prognosis can vary significantly.

So how do you participate?

Step one: Clean-shave your face on November 1st.

Step two: Grow a moustache (according to the foundation, beards and goatees do not reflect the spirit of Movember).

Step three: Register at https://ca.movember.com/register to start a campaign with your “Mo Bro’s”, and “Mo Sista’s”, for friends and family to donate towards.

In case you're not able to grow your own Mo, there is nothing stopping you from supporting Movember! Mo-Movement is a challenge where participants are tasked with moving over 60 km throughout the month of November. Your Movember account can even be linked up with your fitbit for seamless step tracking!

So whether you are growing a stache in support, or marching on for men’s health (or just want Austin Matthews to get rid of his Mo ) please donate/raise what you can for a cause that will help our sons, fathers, brothers, and their families around the world!

By: Dr. Shaveen Jayalathge