Durban - The hipster culture has made it an all-year round fashion trend for men to sport bushy beards, goatees, moustaches and designer stubble.
But, as part of the Movember campaign this month, many will be growing their facial hair to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate and testicular cancer.
Movember is an annual campaign in 21 countries across the globe and was started in Australia in 2003 to “Change the face of men’s health”.
A major focus of Movember is raising awareness and opening dialogues about issues that affect men, and promoting the overall need to improve general health. It encourages men not only to grow a Mo for a month but to go for medical checkups and commit to living a healthy lifestyle.
For the next few weeks, Mo Bros, as the male supporters of Movember are known, will be talking billboards on men’s issues while securing donations for their moustaches. Mo Sistas will play an important role by encouraging their hairier halves to sign up for the campaign.
This year’s theme, “Made in Movember”, is inspired by the global trend of supporting locally grown and manufactured products, explained Garron Gsell, the manager for Movember South Africa.
As part of the Rolux Cricket South Africa Mo Off, Proteas cricketers JP Duminy and Vernon Philander, and bowling coach Allan Donald started growing their moustaches ahead of their series against Australia.
“Movember is a fantastic initiative,” said Duminy. “I’m taking part this year in an effort to create awareness, but more importantly, to get people talking about the dangers of and the measures they can take to help prevent prostate and testicular cancer. I probably don’t sport the best ‘Mo’ in the team, but I have an added incentive to give it a good crack this year.”
Over the years, Movember SA has raised funds to support the survivorship and research programmes developed in conjunction with Movember SA’s men’s health partner, the Cancer Association of South Africa.
One of these programmes is the Online Patient Support Platform, a network of professionals who offer advice to men diagnosed with male cancers.
For South African Movember ambassador and Springbok swimmer Shaun Harris, who was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2011 at the age of 28, going to regular check-ups is very important.
“I never went to the doctor for regular check-ups. Since my experience with testicular cancer I have been meticulous about my health checks and through being a Movember ambassador, I want to encourage all men to be the same.”
How to get involved
After signing up on www.movember.com, there are three ways to get you and your Mo on the MOVE this Movember.
1. Make your own unique commitment to MOVE during the month of Movember:
Don’t waste time sitting in the car – ride your bike to work.
Take your Mo for a 15-minute walk each lunchtime.
Sign up to fitness classes.
Join a sports team.
Swim each day.
2. Host your own MOVE event: Organise a touch rugby tournament, arrange an extreme Frisbee competition or host a Mo Trivia competition.
3. Sign up to one of the featured MOVE events – see http://za.movember.com/
Daily News