OK Guys, Who’s Up for Movember?

This is your opportunity to show how ‘manly’ you really are, to grow that facial hair your ‘better half’ may have always banned you from doing – you have the perfect excuse when it is for such a fantastic cause!

Movember is an annual, month long event that celebrates the either much loved or much loathed ‘moustache’ highlighting men’s health issues, in particular prostate cancer and depression.

The rule is as at November 1st you must start clean shaven (no 5′o clock shadows please!) and then you have the remainder of the month to grow and groom (very important, no ‘leftovers’ in the mo please!) your moustache – by joining the cause you will become a ‘Mo Bro’ and will be a walking billboard for men’s health and be able to raise funds and awareness for Movember’s health partners – The Cancer Society and the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand.

The idea for Movember came about in 2003 in Melbourne, inspired by the women’s health movement it was recognised that men were not actively engaged or involved in their own health and needed a way to raise awareness and so Movember was born!  The event has grown every year and since 2006, the first year it was celebrated in New Zealand, 50,000 men have participated and over $4 million raised.

Today Movember takes place around the world, inspired by what Australia started a further five countries now embrace the Mo each year – New Zealand, US, Canada, UK and Ireland.

So what are you waiting for?  Go the the Movember site to find out the rules, how you can make donations and get involved.  There are Gala Partes all over New Zealand to thank Mo Bros and Sistas for joining the fight and helping to raise awareness and funds for men’s health.

Mo Bros (dressed to suit their Mo) and Mo Sistas (dressed to suit their Mo Bro) come together for one night to show off their moustache growing efforts, celebrate the Mo and compete for a number of title accolades – including Best Mo in Character, Miss Movember and, of course, Man of Movember 2009.

The Auckland Gala Parte will be held on 28 November at the Northern Steamship Co Macs Brew Bar (map)  from 6pm – judging at 9pm.

So join the cause, do your bit for men’s health in New Zealand – we would love to hear of your ‘mo growing’ efforts and even better, see pictures!

Image source: lintmachine@flickr