MOVEMBER!!!
Yes, you read that right: Movember. It's like November, but with an M. Why? Because, several years ago, on a small island paradise called Oz, the inhabitants referred to the bush of hair on a man's upper lip as a mo, and a small but concerned group grew out their mos to raise awareness. Awareness for what? Men's health. As their cause grew, it began to encompass both prostate and testicular cancer, and would forever set out to Change the Face of Men's Health.
I have participated in this grand event every Movember since 2009. Some years have been better than others, but even at my peak, I failed to raise $1,000 in donations; I'm hoping you can help me with this!
"How does a mustache do anything for cancer?" you might be asking, and it's a legit question. The main way it does this is through conversation and increased awareness. Sure, not every hipster with the skinny jeans / messenger bag / summer scarf / mustache combo is out championing the fight against cancer, but during the 11th month of the year, a lot of people are. Personally, I have the world's creepiest mustache -- a "get in my van and have some candy" mustache; a "the gym teacher likes to give out back rubs" kind of lip fuzz; a "please don't make direct eye contact with me" variety of facial hair -- and it is this subnasal coif that get's the conversation going. It stands out, and for that reason, it attracts comments -- typically mean, harassing cutdowns, but comments none the less!
When somebody asks me about my poor face accessory and my decision to become a social pariah, I get to respond with, "I'm growing this creep beast to raise money to fight prostate and testicular cancer. Do you know that 1 in 6 men over the age of 25 get cancer? And most men don't even start getting annual checkups until well past the age of 40!"
This conversation does one of two things: it opens the door to ask for donations which are important in funding research and medical care to fight these diseases, and it also gets the ball rolling on awareness and action. We have to be pro-active in our health, and Movember gets the necessary conversation going.
So, without further adieu, here is my list of demands:
- If you haven't already had your annual check-up, schedule it now. Man or woman, it does not matter; your health is important.
- Donate money to Movember. Even a single dollar can make a difference. If everybody I knew gave just $1, that would amount to a fairly significant donation. Head over to http://mobro.co/chilaska to give your dollar!
- Create your own MoSpace and raise a few bucks! Again, man or woman, it doesn't matter; Mo Bros and Mo Sistas combine to raise money every year!
Thank you for reading this, and thank you for participating! Your donations and promotions go a long way!
Cheers,
Ry
