Movember: how to do the mustache challenge?

Every year, November East mustache month ! Since 2003, Movember (or Blue November) is a charity event which aims to raise awareness among men (supporters are called Mo Bros) about their health (screening of Prostate cancer or testicles, suicide…) by inviting them to grow a mustache for 30 days. “Preventing men from dying too young” is the objective of this awareness campaign. Origin of the event, dates, how to participate and list of causes supported.

What does the word “Movember” mean?

Movember is the contraction of “mo” meaning “mustache” in Australian slang and “november” which means “November” in English.

What is the Movember challenge?

Created in 2003 in Melbourne (Australia) by the foundation Movember Foundation Charity, Movember is a charity event organized every year in November. At the origin of this foundation, a small group made up of Australian men led by two brothers, Adam and Travis Garone. On the occasion of Movember, all men are invited to grow a mustache for 30 days in order to raise awareness among the general public about male pathologies and raise funds for medical research. Movember participates in research into human diseases such as Prostate cancer (2nd most common cancer among men in the world), testicular cancer, mental health or suicide prevention among men. At the same time, every year, throughout the month of November, numerous events are organized all over the world to support research: concerts, running races, themed evenings and days… “Men die on average 6 years earlier than women. (…) Our goal is to help people around the world live happier, healthier and longer lives. This ambition is the pillar of all our actions, the driving force behind our campaigns, our financing strategy and our vision of the future“, explain the organizers on the Movember website.

► In 2005, the operation begins to gain momentum in Australia and is more and more successful: Movember receives the status of an Australian charity. The donations collected go to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which in 2006 became the first official partner of Movember. At the same time, Movember is officially launched in New Zealand.

► In 2007new countries decide to participate in this operation: Canada, Spain, the United States and the United Kingdom.

► In 2012, France is launching its first edition of Movember.

► In 2018Movember is organized in 20 countries and brings together more than 320,000 participants around the world.

What is the Movember logo?

The Movember event logo is none other than a white mustache on a black background (or black on a white background).

Why Movember invites you to grow a mustache?

Based on the observation that men are less attentive to their health than women, the creators of the Movember foundation decided to launch the astonishing challenge to 30 men from grow a mustache for 30 days to attract attention to male diseases such as prostate cancer or testicular cancer, screening them and encouraging their friends to donate to medical research.

Movember raises awareness about which cancers?

The Movember event aims to raise awareness among men about screening for male cancers such asprostate cancer and the testicular cancer. Unlike women who regularly consult their gynecologist and have organized screening for breast cancer, men most often do not consult or only in the event of late symptoms. Also, they must remain attentive to signs that could be suggestive of tumors (difficulty urinating, blood in the urine, painless, hard massincreasing the volume of the stock market…).

“Men die on average 6 years earlier than women.”

Men who want to participate in Movember are invited to register on the official website of the foundation. Once registered, they are considered as MoBro (nickname given to official participants). On November 1st, they should be clean shaven, ready to grow their mustache. Throughout the month of November, they must share photos of their mustache progress and maintenance on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Pinterest, Snapchat) as well as on the Movember mobile application and website.

►By uniting a community throughout the month of November and launching initiatives among those around them to collect as many donations as possible for men’s health via the online platform.

► By publishing their photos, they must encourage their loved ones and friends to make donations to the charity of their choice. In addition, each participant is connected to a Mo Space, a space on which they can publish their photos, share messages of support and call for donations to support the cause they wish. Women can participate in Movember, either by making a donation or by attending one of the partner events.

►By engaging in a run or walk with the Move Movember. By running or walking 60 km during the month, these are 60 km for the 60 men who commit suicide every hour in the world. Your registration allows you to open a Mo Space space where you can share your photos, the progress of your goal and ask your friends and family to help you raise funds.

► By organizing virtual events. Shaving competitions, culinary challenges, online sports betting…

Can you wear a beard during Movember?

Please note during the Movember challenge, only mustaches – regardless of their shape, size or color – are accepted. So no more beards and goatees!

You can make a donation from the official Movember website, via a secure online payment platform. It is possible to make a donation directly to the Foundation or to choose a person or team participating in the event. You can also participate in one of Movember’s partner events. All donations collected during these events will be donated to medical research. Please note: donations made to Movember are no longer tax deductible. Donations made during Movember help fund research programs that save and improve the lives of people around the world.

What are the figures for Movember since its creation?

• Since 2003Movember raised more than $719 million and financed more than 1,250 projects around men’s health around the world.
• In 2009with funding from Movember, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center made a major research breakthrough by identifying more than 25 types of prostate cancer.
• In 2011, thanks to donations raised by Movember, the world’s first prostate cancer genome mapping project has been completed. It allows us to better understand how prostate cancer works.
• In 2016, Movember partners with the National Breast Cancer Foundation Australia to fund research. This initiative allows researchers to exploit the genetic similarities between prostate, breast and ovarian cancers to advance treatment methods.