SACRAMENTO — Chances are you know someone who is growing out their facial hair this month. Most people know it as No-Shave November – or Movember.
It’s a fun way to raise money for a charity that has become a worldwide craze.
Since Movember’s inception, it has raised more than a billion dollars to help fund prostate and testicular cancer programs and suicide prevention.
“We want men to take their health into their own hands and support each other in their health,” said Tim Gnaneswaran, US director of Movember. “We want to have those hard conversations and we want men to stop dying so young.”
When did Movember start?
Gnaneswaran said it was 2003 and two guys were at a bar in Melbourne, Australia, after one of their friends had just been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
“They thought, ‘You know, people don’t wear mustaches much anymore. Let’s grow some mustaches. Let’s raise some money,'” Gnaneswaran said.
Why has Movember grown so much?
Gnaneswaran added that mustaches weren’t typically in fashion before Movember started, but now that it’s in style, “you see a lot of men jumping on board.”
“Something that lasts a month, that is fun, that is unique, that can get the conversation going, I think is very attractive,” Gnaneswaran said. “And I think we’re addressing a lot of men’s health issues.”
If you are interested in donating and learning more about Movember, click here.