Movember

Movember (a portmanteau of the slang word "mo" for moustache and "November") is an annual, month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com.[1] The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health."[2]

By encouraging men to go to the doctor, Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides getting an annual check-up, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of any family history of cancer, and to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.[3]

Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues, such as prostate cancer and depression, in Australia and New Zealand. In 2007, events were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and the United States.[4][5]

It has spread from Australia to South Africa, Europe and North America.[6][7] As of 2011 Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation.[8][9] In 2010, Movember merged with the testicular cancer event Tacheback.[10]

Contents

History

Origins

Movember's yearly event began in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 with 30 men growing a moustache for 30 days in order to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men.[11][12] The organization has since raised $174-million worldwide,[13] after spreading to South Africa and Europe, reaching America in 2006.[6][7] In 2010, participants in the United States alone raised over $7.5 million.[14]

Controversies

In November 2007 at Scots College in Wellington, New Zealand, several graduating students were banned from end-of-year prizes for growing moustaches and the college threatened to ban a senior student from their NCEA examinations (official secondary school qualification) for growing a moustache during November.[15]

In 2007, the Movember Foundation events were featured on Australian tabloid current affairs program Today Tonight, which accused the foundation of spending a disproportionate amount on running costs and high salaries for its directors.[16] The financial summary of the Australian 2008 Movember campaign listed campaign costs (administration and fundraising) as being 8% of the total amount raised.[17][18] In 2007, campaign costs were listed as 9% of total amount raised.[19] Givewell reports that in 2008, the "Average Fundraising Cost Ratio" (fundraising costs as percentage of total fundraising revenue) for Australian charities was 18%.[20]

Rules

The rules of conduct given on the Movember site are:[21]

  1. Once registered at movember.com each mo bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face.
  2. For the entire month of Movember each mo bro must grow and groom a moustache.
  3. There is to be no joining of the mo to [one's] side burns. (That’s considered a beard.)
  4. There is to be no joining of the handlebars to [one's] chin. (That’s considered a goatee.)
  5. Each mo bro must conduct himself like a true country gentleman.

Partners

Movember.com

In 2011, Google Chrome partnered with Movember to create a video. The video featured real participants, and how they utilize the web and Movember.com to raise awareness and funds for the cause. The video generated well over 1.1 million views. It featured the Handsome Furs song "Repatriated." [22][23]

In 2010 and 2011, Movember partnered with TOMS to create limited edition Movember shoes for those participating.[24]

In 2011, Qantas supported Movember by painting a moustache and "Movember.com" on one of its airplanes.[25]

Ambassadors

2011 Movember Ambassadors include: Joe Jonas,[26] Justin Bieber,[27] Cake (Musicians),[28] Foster the People (Musicians),[29] Morgan Spurlock,[30] George Parros of the Anaheim Ducks,[31] Snoop Dogg,[32] Kevin Connolly,[33][34] Brody Jenner,[35] Matt Leinart,[36] Bloomberg TV's Matt Miller,[37] Mr. Clean,[38] UFC Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar,[39] Philip Bloom (Photographer)[40]

In 2010, some of the Montreal Canadiens were seen sporting moustaches during the month of November, with a video appearing on the Canadiens homepage, thus confirming the worldwide spread of Movember.[41]

2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button started support for Movember by showing off his blond moustache at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, returning the presence of the moustache on the F1 podium by finishing 3rd, the first since the 1994 Australian Grand Prix won by Nigel Mansell.

In 2009, many of the Australian rugby union team players were seen sporting moustaches during the Autumn Test Series.

Many high-profile Australian sports people, celebrities, and dignitaries have supported the Movember Foundation, including World Champion surfer Mick Fanning;[42] author, columnist, and presenter Samantha Brett;[43] Today sports presenter Cameron Williams; ex-Big Brother housemate Ryan Fitzgerald; Queensland cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds; and several AFL players.[44] NHL "tough guy" George Parros, alongside Bill McCreary, shaved his mustache to participate in the 2010 Movember event. Brad Pozzi an Australian rules lineback.[45]

Charities

Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has used Movember to raise awareness and funds for men's health issues in Australia and New Zealand. Monetary proceeds go toward the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and Beyond Blue.[46]

In 2007, the Foundation launched campaigns in Canada (funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada), Spain (FEFOC), the United Kingdom (The Prostate Cancer Charity), and the United States (Prostate Cancer Foundation LIVESTRONG).[46] In the US, Movember's men's health partners are The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.[47][48]

In 2008, the Movember Foundation started the event in the Republic of Ireland. The beneficiary in that country is Action Prostate Cancer, an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society.[49]

A non-foundation Movember event has been held in the Cayman Islands by a "MOvember Committee" since 2006. The event has been sponsored by CML Offshore Recruitment and raises funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.[50]

Similar events

The popularity of Movember as a charity has inspired other annual facial hair growing contests across the world, such as No Shave November and Moustache March.[51][52] Such events are not affiliated with Movember, and are not registered charitable foundations,[53] although some smaller events have been held to raise money or awareness for different charities.[54][55]

Some college students have confused the facial hair contest, No Shave November, with the charity event, Movember.[56] No-Shave November is not affiliated with any philanthropic organizations.[57] The facial hair growing contest No Shave November has participants not shaving at all for the month.[58] Unlike Movember, No Shave November does not raise funds for testicular and prostate cancer research and allows participants to grow facial hair other than moustaches.[51] Student at Brigham Young University urge students not to confuse No Shave November with the charity event for men's health, Movember.[56] Both men and women participate in the month-long event, with men abstaining from shaving their beards, and women their armpits or legs.[59] In 2010, a website was mounted explaining the rules of the event, including #1 "No shaving in November and #2 "No shaving in November.[60]

Seven Nightly News aired a story in 1999 featuring a group of young men in Adelaide who claimed to have originated idea of growing moustaches for charity during the month of November.[61] In the news report, members of the Adelaide-based "Movember Committee" explained how they came up with the idea for Movember one night in the pub. With a website at Movember.org, the group was said to have 80 men from Adelaide and interstate involved in the event, and aimed to raise money for the RSPCA through selling T-shirts in what they termed "Growing whiskers for whiskers".[61] The committee remains uninvolved with the wider Movember movement, and claims to have coined the term "Movember" in 1999.[62]

See also

References

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  2. ^ Stewart, Chato B. (2010-11-17). "Change the FACE of Men’s Health by Growing a Moustache for Prostate Cancer and Depression | Mental Health Humor". Blogs.psychcentral.com. http://blogs.psychcentral.com/humor/2010/11/change-the-face-of-mens-health-by-growing-a-moustache-prostate-cancer-and-depression/. Retrieved 2011-11-30. 
  3. ^ "Mustaches Raise Millions for Men's Health". Myfoxdc.com. http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/national/foxnews/Mustaches-Raise-Millions-for-Mens-Health_25415908. Retrieved 2011-11-30. 
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  5. ^ Doll, Jen (2011-11-01). "Movember: Shave Off Your Moustache (and Grow It Back) for Men's Health, Amusement - New York News - Runnin' Scared". Blogs.villagevoice.com. http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2011/11/movember_shave.php. Retrieved 2011-11-22. 
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  8. ^ "Canadian website". Ca.movember.com. http://ca.movember.com/momoney/. Retrieved 2011-11-30. 
  9. ^ Morreale, Michael (2011-11-09). "Example of support:Top five classical composer moustaches". Cbc.ca. http://www.cbc.ca/radio2/tempo/2011/11/29/tempos-top-five-composer-moustaches/. Retrieved 2011-11-30. 
  10. ^ "Frequently Asked Questions". Tacheback. http://www.tacheback.co.uk/html/faq.html. Retrieved 2011-11-18. 
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  26. ^ http://blog.music.aol.com/2011/11/28/celebrity-movember-mustaches/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+AOLMusicBlog+%28AOL+Music+Blog%29
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  45. ^ Ducks right wing George Parros, who has gained notoriety for his signature moustache during his tenure in the NHL, is leading the charge during the 30-day mustache-growing movement in November. Parros will “start from scratch” by shaving and re-growing his moustache.
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External links