Ready Set Mo

Call it facial hair for a good cause. For thousands of Canadians and hundreds of thousands worldwide the month formerly known as November has become Movember and continues to change the face of men’s health.

Last year, 247,441 Canadians raised $42.6 million for men’s health initiatives. Movember funds prostate cancer research, men’s mental health initiatives and, through its Global Action Plan, testicular cancer research.

Fifty per cent of funds raised go to fund prostate cancer, 40 per cent to men’s health and 10 per cent to funded projects. Movember’s administration fee is proudly boasted at only eight per cent.

“As a result of moustaches grown by thousands of Canadians, Movember has been able to fund more than 130 programs across the country since it started back in 2007,” said Peter Bombaci, country director, Movember Canada. “Mo Bros and Mo Sistas have put the spotlight on men’s health and getting Canadian men of all ages thinking, talking and taking action to check up on their health.”

Registration for this year’s growing season, the seventh annual in Canada, started September 28 and 93,856 men and women had already registered as of November 1. Over 40 of those are Powell River residents signed up as either individuals or members of 10 registered teams.

Men start off November 1 clean-shaven and grow their moustaches for 30 days. They encourage their friends and family members to donate money for their mo-growing efforts. Women are also encouraged to register, as Mo Sistas, to show their support and encouragement for the men in their lives. At the end of the month, in communities across the country, shaving parties are being organized.

One of the biggest obstacles men tackle in regard to general well-being is a reluctance to discuss the health issues they face with their partner, family, friends or doctor. Movember was born from recognition that a fun and engaging initiative could help encourage men to become more actively involved in their own health. Movember aims to increase awareness and support for men’s health by getting conversations started, educating men about the health risks they face and raising funds for support programs.

Members of Powell River Fire Rescue team are taking their fundraising efforts to the next level this year. They are selling calendars with 12 months of pictures of local auxiliary and career firefighters showing off their moustaches. The black and white portraits were captured by photographer Jennifer Dodd at the department’s Movember windup party held last year.

“It was her donation to Movember city-wide,” said auxiliary firefighter Darryl Jackson. “She would take a picture of anyone who grew a moustache.”

Jackson said the fire department contacted Dodd for the photographs at the time for fun, but once participants saw how well the images turned out they realized they could put together the calendars to raise even more money.

“This year we’ve contacted her again with the idea of making another calendar for next year,” he said.

Jackson has been participating in the month-long event for the past two years and over that time he said he has seen the numbers of men involved grow. “This year is certainly no different,” he added.

The firefighting team raised $350 in 2011 when first created and last year it more than doubled money raised to over $800.

This year seven firefighters were already signed up before the first of the month and a handful more expressed interest, said Jackson.

One in seven Canadian men will develop prostate cancer in their life and this year 26,500 new cases will be diagnosed, according to Movember statistics.

“I’ve known several people who have had prostate cancer,” said Jackson. “Out of all the cancers around, prostate cancer is one of the easiest to detect if you go get checked out, and arguably the easiest to overcome.”

Yet, close to 4,000 Canadian men die of prostate cancer annually.

Jackson, who is normally clean-shaven, said a month is just about the right amount of time to grow a full moustache.

“You’d be surprised how much you can put on your face in a month,” he said. “The first week there’s not much going on and then on the second week it gets really itchy but by the third week it’s growing in and starting to look like something. By the fourth week it’s getting full and it’s right about the perfect time to hack it off.

“We look funny for the month but we get a ton of support,” he added. “Every year I’m surprised by the number of men around town growing moustaches.”

He is encouraging all men, no matter whether they sign up formally for Movember, to grow a moustache. A big part of this campaign is just raising awareness and increasing the numbers of people talking about men’s health, Jackson said.

The fire rescue team is selling the calendars for a minimum $10 donation. Calendars will be for sale at Westview Ford and a few other places around town, said Jackson. People interested in purchasing a calendar can also contact Jackson through email at [email protected].

Donations to the fire rescue team, or any other participant, can be made online and are fully tax deductible. Fire rescue’s team page can be found online. To find out more about Movember Canada, readers can visit the organization online.

Fire rescue team will hold its own shave-off party at the end of the month.

A month-end finale, open to the public, is being organized by stylists at Image 1 Salon & Spa. The Battle of the Stashes Shave-off is planned for Friday, November 29, at Carlson Community Club. Teams from the club, City Transfer, Quality Foods, Powell River Regals, Rotary Club of Powell River, Safeway and Tempco will battle in a silent auction for all individual team members. Top bidders will shave off their favourite moustache. Live auction battles will be held for team captains and celebrity mo-growers. Tickets for the event, at $20 each, are available at Image 1 in Crossroads Village Shopping Centre.