As men around the world get ready to shave their moustaches off as ‘Movember’ comes to a close, it’s a reminder of what a terrific cause this really is both as a fundraiser and an awareness-builder.

Locally, participants in the month-long campaign to grow a ‘stache’ and raise funds for prostate cancer research and awareness, will gather this Friday at the official wrap-up event at the Stache Bash 2012 at Chillabongs, starting at 8 p.m.

Although numbers for this year’s event have yet to come in, last year $125.7 million was raised around the world, with 854,288 men signing up for the cause. That’s a far cry from the initiative’s humble beginnings back in 2004, when 450 guys signed up and raised $50,000.

People around the world have since taken up the cause, and Movember is truly an international fundraising success.

According to the web site Movember and Sons, the campaign is also serving as an effective ‘awareness-building’ tool. Ninety per cent of participants say they’ve spent time thinking about improving their health, and
75% say they’ve discussed their health with family, friends or colleagues during Movember.

Also,
35% understood that their health depends on how well they take care of themselves,
66% of participants have had a recent general check-up and
48% of participants carried out personal research on men’s health issues during Movember.

Statistics show that one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. In 2012, 26,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed and 4,000 will lose their battle.

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men after skin cancer, and the incidence rates are nearly double for in African American men. But if detected and treated early, prostate cancer has a 95% success rate.

While there are cases of prostate cancer showing up in younger men, it is recommended that men begin an annual screening at age 50 and at age 40 if there is a family history.

Regarding Movember, the movement was launched back in 2003 by some guys in Australia who wanted to bring back the moustache into fashion while raising money for prostate cancer research. There are now formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the U.S., Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland.

This is a campaign that has really taken off world-wide, not only with men taking part but women can get involved by becoming a ‘Mo Sista’. Mo Sistas not only help to fundraise for the cause as well, but they also work to build awareness regarding prostate cancer and encourage the ‘Mo Bros’ in their lives to get checked.

It’s great to see this kind of support, and it’s a unique initiative that everyone can get behind.

editor@reddeerexpress.com