‘Movember’ promotes men’s health by growing mustaches
By: Rich McLoughlin – Contributing Writer
Editor’s Note: Rich McLoughlin is a senior exercise science major whose life experiences have led him to motivate others toward personal fitness. McLoughlin is a certified personal trainer.
By now, chances are you have heard of the term “Movember.” November has been designated as the month to promote “Movember,” which is the cause to promote charity and awareness for men’s health. The primary goal of “Movember” is to encourage men to grow the best moustaches possible, which will in turn lead to conversation about men’s health and the seriousness of the diseases men face every day.
Men are also encouraged to setup their own “Mo Space.” This is a personalized page that can be generated through “Movember’s” official website, us.movember.com, and allows friends and generous donors to donate monetary support to the “Mo Bro.” These donations will support research programs geared toward fighting prostate and testicular cancer.
One of the more significant cancers men face every day is prostate cancer. According to us.movember.com, “In the U.S., one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, making it the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men after skin cancer.”
A man is 35 percent more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer. Even if prostate cancer is detected and treated at an early stage, it can still have a 97 percent chance for recovery. Unfortunately, while we strive a great deal to promote awareness and charity for women’s health issues, we do very little for the male cause.
Growing a mean mustache is the way men can finally do something manly and better the overall health of men worldwide at the same time.
Grow your own mustache.
It is not too late to start. “Movember” is only half way over. You have plenty of time to get started on your own mustache.
1. Start off with a clean shave (use a razor and some shaving cream if this is your first time…)
2. Grow as much facial hair as you can, trimming the beard to accentuate your mustache.
3. Be a walking, talking billboard. Talk about your mustache with your friends, family and anyone else to raise awareness about men’s health.
I ask both men and women to go and check out the “Movember” website. Don’t have access to internet? You can help out by growing a mustache. I have already begun my journey to growing the best mustache possible, I challenge you to do the same and maybe surpass my moustache eliteness. Good luck.