Movember movement

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 men behind the Mo realised 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 US$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. Perhaps 2011 will see Zimbabwe’s men among their number.
In 2009, global participation of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas climbed to 255 755, with over one million donors raising the equivalent of £26 million for Movember’s global beneficiary partners. The funds raised through Movember’s UK campaign benefit the The Prostate Cancer Charity, the UK’s leading prostate cancer charity. South African Mo Bros and Sistas can join their 250 000 registered Global counterparts by donating their faces and growing their Mo’s in aid of the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and their message of detecting men’s cancers early.
The money raised as a result of Movember is channelled into a number of world class and innovative education, support, research and awareness initiatives.
All men should invest in their health by learning how to detect men’s cancers early — CANSA encourages men to be proactive by regular self-examination and having Prostate Specific Antigen blood tests. Men from age 15 to 40 years of age need to examine their testicles each month, preferably after a bath or shower, to feel for any pea-sized lumps that could indicate testicular cancer. Men over the age of 50 need to go for simple screening tests each year to check if they might have prostate cancer, which is the most common cancer among men globally.  The lifetime risk for men developing prostate cancer in South Africa is one in 23.
The Movember campaign speaks clearly and directly to the public and in doing so educates and informs them on the health risks men face. Awareness is what alters behaviour and mind-sets, it’s what gradually breaks down barriers and brings about real change. The Movember Foundation wants men to understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others and appreciate when and how to seek help if needed. Statistics show that on average men die younger than women. The reasons for this are numerous and complex and not for this now; however, what is known is that it is largely due to a lack of awareness and a reluctance by men to talk about issues relating to their health. Through an increased level of general awareness, the Movember Foundation wants to help change current statistics.
Since Movember’s inception, awareness and understanding has been greatly increased and this can be seen in two ways. Firstly, by the funds raised in each country, and secondly, by the changes in behaviour by men relating to their health.
Each year, the Movember Foundation undertakes a research project led by Professor Heath McDonald from Deakin University in Melbourne. The aim of which is to develop a full understanding of why people are taking part in Movember, if Movember is meeting expectations and track behavioural change as a result of participation.
The latest research findings prove that Movember is having a positive impact on the way in which men are dealing with the issue of their health:
– Fifty-four percent talked about men’s health issues with others, with 30 percent of those  attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember,
– Twenty-two percent did some of their own research into men’s health issues, with 51 percent of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember,
l Fifty percent participated or donated to other charities, with six percentof those  attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember, – Thirty-five percent sought medical advice, with 10 percent of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember,
– Thirty-eight percent encouraged someone else to seek medical advice, with 20 percent of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember.
The Movember Foun-dation will continue to conduct annual research going forward in order that impact and efficacy can be tracked. Each year, key statistics are shared on the foundation website. Going forward, the Movember foundation will remain committed to raising awareness of men’s health issues. For those of you new to Movember, we challenge you to join us in changing the face of men’s health. We’ll be reminding you in Pink Month next year that Movember is just around the corner.
And while we are on the subject of men’s health, don’t forget healthy skin. The Clarins Men’s ‘Skin Must Haves’ is a perfect gift for the man in your life, this Christmas. It’s a fabulous denim toiletry bag with active face wash, moisture balm, total shampoo, face scrub and skin difference.
Clarins Men — long live men’s skin!

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