You are probably familiar with the term 'No Shave November', and if you are not, then in what world are you living? Not many years ago, a social media trend surfaced on the internet when all the men in your socials were posting their new bread look with a #NoShaveNovember.
'Oh, no! Is this some new tacky challenge started by some internet celebrity?'
Questions like this flooded your mind, and then you put on your detective cap on and started looking for answers.
What is 'No Shave November'?
According to recent statistics, the suicide rate of men is more than that of women. Men do not like to talk about their mental health, their depression because they are scared that society will label them as not manly enough. 'No shave November' is an event to raise awareness for men's health issues such as depression and cancer, prostate cancer, and testicular cancer to be precise.
How did the term 'Movember' come into existence?
In 1999 a group of young men was the first to coin the term Movember. 'No Shave November' is also called Movember. It is a portmanteau of the word moustache, "mo" and "November."
History
The group of young men who coined the term Movember also came up with the concept of growing moustaches during November for charity. Initially, the group started with 80 men from Adelaide and shortly after became a national phenomenon.
In 2004, a new group in Melbourne built an event to raise awareness for prostate cancer and depression in men, where 30 men supported the event by growing a moustache for a month. This is the same group that later became the Movember Foundation charity.
This charity has since raised 174 million dollars worldwide, and their work spread to South Africa and Europe and in 2006 reached North America.
International Man of Movember.
To make more out of the event and keep it fun and engaging, the International Man of Movember is chosen every year from 21 national, worldwide winners to carry the crown and to be the face of Movember for the whole year.
Mark Knight from London was the first champion in 2010. Then in 2011, South Africa's Anton Taylor won the title, and later in 2012, Chris Thwaites from New Zealand won the coveted sash. 2013 was Sweden's Tom Rickard year to get crowned.
Fame.
The Movember Foundation is supported by many high-profile athletes, celebrities, and dignitaries, including Mick Fanning, who is an Australian World Champion surfer and many other famous authors, and columnists.
Famous people who are associated with this event are:
1. Cameron Williams, Today sports presenter.
2. Ryan Fitzgerald, ex-Big Brother housemate.
3. Andrew Symonds, Queensland cricket all-rounder.
4. Indian cricketers Ravindra Jadeja and Shikhar Dhawan
Several other celebrities also participated in this event every November.
Charities.
Movember is used to raise funds in Australia and New Zealand by
The Movember Foundation charity. The money goes to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and Beyond Blue.
The Foundation started campaigns in Canada in 2007. This campaign funds the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. They also began their campaigns in Spain (FEFOC), the United Kingdom Prostate Cancer UK, the United States (the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Livestrong Foundation).
In 2008, the Movember Foundation started the event in the Republic of Ireland. The beneficiary in that country is Action Prostate Cancer, an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society.
Bonus
Some additional facts about 'No Shave November' :
1. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event.
2. the charity refers to the men who participate in this as 'Mo Bros.'
3. 'Change the face of men's health' is the goal of Movember.
4. In 2007, events were launched in countries like Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, and the United States.
5. The highest number of contributors to the Movember charities were Canadians as of 2011.
6. In 2012 Movember was listed as one of the world's top 100 NGOs by the Global Journal.
Conclusion.
Honestly, this is a great movement. You should participate too. Grow your hair or moustache or beard or all three for the whole month fo November, save the money for the grooming, and then donate the money to the charities that help and raise awareness about men's health. You can even donate your hair after the end of the month to the cancer charities.
Do not just put the hashtag 'No Shave November' for fun or just because it is a social trend, or you want to show off your new beard look. If you're going to do it, then do it for the proper cause, talk about it with your family and friends and participate together. Stand for each other.
I hope to see you all participating this November and fighting for the right cause. All the best!