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I have long been a fan of a good beard. I’ve never actually seen my dad without one. Which is why I’ve always been a fan of Megatouch’s traditional No-Shave November.
L to R: Megatouch Game Programmer Rob Fortin, former Megatouch Game Designer Grant Shonkwiler, former Megatouch Lead Programmer Aaron Melcher, Megatouch Game Designer Jay Aigner, in happier, hairier days.
But it seems that this year, No-Shave November has been usurped by a more high-maintenance Fall facial hair challenge, Movember. I was scared and confused by the lack of beard growth, I wondered what on Mother Earth was going on. Nothing good, I was convinced. Oh, how wrong I was.
My dad's beard has only gotten more epic in the ensuing years.
Movember is a movement to grow moustaches during the month of November to raise not just awareness, but money as well, for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer. That’s right, people are sponsoring menfolk to grow and groom moustaches for a month in an effort to get guys to the doctor. Brilliant. Men seem to love nothing so much as cultivating and talking about various forms of body hair, might as well make it for a good cause. Our very own Kurt is on a team, I hear his fiery red nose neighbor will be joining us soon.
Mo Bros, as the team members are called, begin November with a clean-shaven face then grow, wax and nurture their upper-lip fuzz. We ladies, as Mo Sisters, can merely support their efforts. I mean some of us could also grow a ‘stache, but it would be neither as impressive or adorable as those grown by the bros. At the end of the month, the Mo Bros join together at Gala Partes worldwide to celebrate their month of follicular fun.
Sorry Mo Sistas, this doesn't count. It's one of my 2010 Halloween costumes.
So, how did Movember get its start? Down Under of course. Those crazy Aussies started growing their whiskers in 2003, and have grown the movement to more than 1.1 million Mo Bros and Sistas in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, and Ireland. They’ve also raised $174 million worldwide, and $7.5 million last year just in the US for the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG. Not to mention the awareness raised by the bushy buddies, that increases the chance of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment of men’s cancers.
Your goal, courtesy of my friend Bryan who rocks the 'stache hardcore.
Since it’s too late to begin Movember, it being mid-November, you can donate, either to a team, someone you know, or just make a general donation to the cause. Although you sure can look into getting involved next year. If you do, you may even win a prize for your facial push-broom participation. You can also check out the marvelous moustache-related merchandise available. Look! Moustache cuff links! Whatever you do, don’t let this chance to help the men in your life keep themselves healthy go down the drain like so many little, tiny shaved hairs.
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I wasn’t aware of this… Still thought No-Shave November was going on… But i have seen the guys shaving these part few weeks… makes me sad. I haven’t shaved since last day of October… Maybe i should just do the stache…
Gonna make one of these. Don’t wanna be left out!
http://www.marthastewart.com/265827/mustache-on-a-stick
Just want to say, that’s an awesome Halloween costume.