Movember is the practice of growing a mustache in November (hence, Movember) and raising money for charity, often with a focus on men’s health.
But Movember is more than that. It’s an idea and a global movement.
It’s also a way for men to speak to society — and each other — about deeply personal & painful emotions.
Suicide prevention is a major focus of Movember.
It provides men with a context in which they can discuss feelings that many will ignore or bottle up.
Movember fundraisers can also raise money for other men’s issues like prostate cancer and testicular cancer.
And it seems to be making a difference.
Since 2003, the Movember Foundation has raised $837 million and funded 1,200+ projects across 20+ countries. (see some pictures from their first Movember below)
Where did Movember come from?
The idea for Movember has humble origins.
In 1999, a group of young men in the Australian city of Adelaide sat in a pub talking about how mustaches had gone out of style. (see a stylish mustache below)
They came up with the idea to grow mustaches during November while raising money for an animal welfare organization.
According to a contemporary news broadcast about their idea:
“Word about Movember has spread via the World Wide Web all the way to San Francisco, and prompted threats of legal action.
The Mustache Celebration Foundation, which claims to host actor Tom Selleck as a member, says it patented the term Movember in 1977.”
A separate group of Aussies started doing a Movember fundraiser for prostate cancer and depression in men in 2004.
They later started the Movember Foundation, which provides resources about men’s mental & physical health on its website.
How can I get involved?
My good friend Colby Pearl is doing a Movember fundraiser this year.
He already has a great mustache, so I’m excited to see what he looks like at the end of the month.
He had this to say about Movember:
“As men, we often put our ego up and push our feelings down.
Because we need to be the tough guy, we need to put food on the table, and be the man of the house.
It shouldn’t be like this.
If you’re feeling down, and you can’t find anyone to talk to, there’s a ton of resources on the Movember website.
It’s a big thing: just because we’re men doesn’t mean that we don’t have feelings or we don’t need to talk to someone.”
Colby is donating $1 for every person who likes his Instagram post (included above) about Movember.
If you’re interested in making a donation directly to Colby’s fundraiser, click here.
I conclude this newsletter with a beautiful mustachioed cat.
Have a great weekend.
ART OF THE DAY
Salvador Dalí in 1953. "Like two erect sentries, my mustache defends the entrance to my real self."
