Whether you’re growing a beard or a mustache, November is the month to support men’s health.  Growing in popularity this month-long event raises funds and awareness for men’s health.

Movember

Movember takes over “the month formerly known as November” encouraging men to sign up online, clean shaven.  Throughout the month they shape and trim their mustaches into various styles.  Funds raised throughout Movember address men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that typically affect men.  Men who participate, Mo Bros, become walking billboards for men’s health and cancers.  Mo Bros also fundraise throughout the month, many reflecting on a family member’s battle with prostate cancer.

The Movember movement began in Australia and has spread across the world, raising over $174 million.  There have been over 1.1 million Mo Bros and Mo Sisters registered throughout the history of the event.  The amount raised in 2010 was double that of the fundraising dollars in 2009, reaching over $80 million.  $7.5 million of that total was raised in the United States from over 64,500 people.

Where exactly does the money go?  13 percent of the money raised is used for administrative costs, while 4 percent is retained by Movember to cover future advertisements and to retain the long-term goals.  83% of the money collected is donated!  The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG each receive 35%, and the remaining 13% of funds are donated to Movember’s awareness and education programs.

More information is available online at Movember.

Thank you for growing a mustache gentlemen! Are you going to participate?