Sharjah: New Zealand cricketers are sporting a moustache for a good cause. Though most of them arrived in the UAE without a moustache, the players now have all grown a moustache. On Friday a few of them lined up for a photograph showing off their moustache proudly.
Growing a moustache is part of a campaign to raise money for a foundation called Movember, a global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. The foundation believes in involving every male by growing moustache during the month of November to raise awareness on men’s health issues as instances of prostate cancer and other male related diseases are on the increase. Movember emerged from the diminutive word in Australian-English for moustache ‘mo’ and the fact that it has to be grown in November.
“Our team supports this foundation and the players have joined hands to back it,” said Callum Elder, the media officer of the New Zealand team to Gulf News after taking snaps of some of the cricketers who have grown their moustache. Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides annual check-ups, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of the family history of cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The size of the moustache doesn’t matter, but the campaign clearly states there will be no beards or goatees. The foundation’s website appeals to all men who like to run or walk for charity to use their moustache to raise funds. In 2010, Movember merged with the testicular cancer event called Tacheback.
Movember aims to change men’s way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, the idea is to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to learn and talk about their health and take action when needed. The goal of the foundation is reduced mortality from prostate, testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
