Movember is a global campaign to raise awareness about men’s health, with its main focus being prostate and testicular cancer. Initiated in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, Movember has now become an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November.
The Movember Foundation manages the charity event and is not only focused on awareness and education, but also places emphasis on the people who are living with cancer and research to change the face of men’s health.
The people who participate in the campaign are referred to as ‘Mo Bros’ or ‘Mo Sistas’, depending on their gender. They have to register on the foundation’s official website, www.movember.com, in October.
Male participants are challenged to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November. Through their efforts, they raise awareness for the often ignored issues of men’s health as they prompt conversations wherever they go, with their moustache often being a conversation starter.
Female participants, families and friends can sponsor their efforts by donating online and spreading word about their campaign through social media channels.
At the end of the month, the participants can either organise their own event or participate in one of the official celebratory events organised by the foundation.
Since 2003, over 4 million people from around the world have joined the movement and raised $559 million (Dh2.05 billion) for the cause. The money collected online is used for research purposes and to improve the lives of those affected by prostate and testicular cancer. The event is marked across 21 countries worldwide, with the UAE being one of them.
The foundation also launched ‘The Moscars’ in 2010, which is an online forum for participants to submit videos that help spread the word. Submissions cannot be longer than four minutes and prizes can be won in several categories.
