The chilly November days are upon us again, and that can only mean one thing- the ‘taches are back. Sorry girls, but it’s Movember; that time of year when the men of Ireland ditch the razors and offer their peach fuzz as a billboard for raising awareness of men’s health issues.
Coming from stubbly beginnings in 2003, the global campaign has grown annually and flourished into the hairy success it is today- last year raising over €2 million in Ireland alone for men’s health charities. Dubbed ‘Generation Mo’, over 20 countries worldwide are involved in this year’s campaign, with 2012’s global takings of €113.5 million set to be exceeded as organisers tip this campaign to be the hairiest yet.
To be an official Mo Bro, as participants are affectionately known, bros must registered by the 1st November and begin with clean-shaven faces. Entrants can be teams or individuals, and all money raised in Ireland goes to the Irish Cancer Society and Movember’s Global Action Plan (GAP) to eradicate prostate cancer.
Wolf-pack ‘Tache On’ is one team of colleagues that have sacrificed the smooth life for the greater good. Team captain Chris McDonald said the group are aiming to raise a minimum of €300 as well as a greater awareness around the health issues affecting men. “My father had prostate cancer, thankfully he made a full recovery, but it’s a great way to highlight men’s health and it gets us all talking- even if it is just slagging me because my moustache is grey.”
So are these Mo Bros willing to keep the ‘taches once Movember draws to a close? “I’m liking the look so who knows, it might stay; although it’s a pity the hair growth isn’t on my head. It’s been a great laugh so far and it’s becoming competitive among the lads over who has the best style”, said McDonald.
Movember isn’t just for the men either, because as they say: ‘behind every good man is a better woman’. ‘Mo Sistas’ are encouraged to get involved by organising events, campaigning, fundraising and supporting their mo-clad men. One Irish woman in particular has thought of a novel way to celebrate Movember, as reported in the Leinster Leader.
Obviously unable to grow a moustache, this woman has instead decided (careful, now) on doing 2,000 seconds worth of exercise for every day in November, in line with the amount of hairs estimated to be in an average mo. Many events are taking place in the coming weeks to keep the spirit of Movember alive, including a 10km obstacle course in the wilds of Galway, a Mo Run through the Phoenix Park and a month-long initiative to get people up, moving and health-conscious.
At the end of the month, mo parties and gala evenings will be held around Ireland and the world in a final celebration of all things hairy. The current global leaders in the money stakes are the furry folk of Canada, with the men of Ireland coming in a respectable fifth place. With a bit of catching up to do, it’s time to brace yourselves- it’s about to get hairy.
Ruth Marnell
Image credit: Flickr via Creative Commons
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