2008 Woodie Awards
Manning it up for prostate cancer
by Brian Anderson
Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Mosaic
The month of November conjures up images of stuffed turkeys, colored leaves and football. Recently, men across the globe have added a new image to this fall month - facial hair.
From the United States to Australia, men are growing out beards and mustaches in epic proportions. From the handlebar mustache to the mutton-chop beard, facial hair has become a new facet to the men of what some are calling "Movember" or "Manvember."
Adam Garone, co-founder of the now-global movement called "Movember," says "mo" is slang for mustache in Australia. The mustache was popular during the '70s and '80s.
"A lot of guys - sports stars, rock stars, movie stars, our fathers - all had mustaches," Garone says. "For some reason, they fell out of fashion."
While sitting around with a few of his mates on a summer afternoon in 2003, the topic of mustaches entered the conversation, Garone says. They reminisced about the mustache craze and the group was struck with an idea.
"It started as a bit of a joke," he says. "Let's bring the mustache back."
After considering it further with his friends, Garone says he noticed a lot was being done for breast cancer research but not for prostate cancer. He decided to combine the mustache revival with support for men's health.
With this in mind, "Movember" was born. He and his mates turned the playful act of growing and grooming a mustache for an entire month into a movement to support men's health. Garone says the movement has spread internationally, recently making its much-needed debut in the United States.
"In America, like in Australia a few years ago, there is no significant event for prostate cancer," he says. "The mustache becomes the talking point."
Mustache growers pledge not to shave for the entire month, then sign up with "Movember" and are sponsored by family members, spouses or friends, he says. The money pledged then goes to different foundations to raise money for prostate cancer and men's health research.
From the United States to Australia, men are growing out beards and mustaches in epic proportions. From the handlebar mustache to the mutton-chop beard, facial hair has become a new facet to the men of what some are calling "Movember" or "Manvember."
Adam Garone, co-founder of the now-global movement called "Movember," says "mo" is slang for mustache in Australia. The mustache was popular during the '70s and '80s.
"A lot of guys - sports stars, rock stars, movie stars, our fathers - all had mustaches," Garone says. "For some reason, they fell out of fashion."
While sitting around with a few of his mates on a summer afternoon in 2003, the topic of mustaches entered the conversation, Garone says. They reminisced about the mustache craze and the group was struck with an idea.
"It started as a bit of a joke," he says. "Let's bring the mustache back."
After considering it further with his friends, Garone says he noticed a lot was being done for breast cancer research but not for prostate cancer. He decided to combine the mustache revival with support for men's health.
With this in mind, "Movember" was born. He and his mates turned the playful act of growing and grooming a mustache for an entire month into a movement to support men's health. Garone says the movement has spread internationally, recently making its much-needed debut in the United States.
"In America, like in Australia a few years ago, there is no significant event for prostate cancer," he says. "The mustache becomes the talking point."
Mustache growers pledge not to shave for the entire month, then sign up with "Movember" and are sponsored by family members, spouses or friends, he says. The money pledged then goes to different foundations to raise money for prostate cancer and men's health research.
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