Movember
Encyclopedia
Movember is an annual, month-long event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November. The Movember Foundation runs the Movember charity event, housed at Movember.com. The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health."
By encouraging men to go to the doctor, Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides getting an annual check-up, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of any family history of cancer, and to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity
has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health
issues, such as prostate cancer
and depression
, in Australia
and New Zealand
. In 2007, events were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and the United States.
It has spread from Australia to South Africa, Europe and North America. As of 2011 Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation. In 2010, Movember merged with the testicular cancer event Tacheback
.
A separate group, represented at Movember.org,claims their event was conceived in 1999 by a group of Australian men from Adelaide.
In 2010 and 2011, Movember partnered with TOMS to create limited edition Movember shoes for those participating.
In 2011, Qantas supported Movember by painting a moustache and "Movember.com" on one of its airplanes.
Justin Bieber
Cake (Musicians)
Foster the People (Musicians)
Morgan Spurlock
George Parros of the Anaheim Ducks
Snoop Dogg
Kevin Connolly
Brody Jenner
Matt Leinart
Bloomberg TV's Matt Miller
Mr. Clean
UFC Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar
Philip Bloom (Photographer)
In 2010, some of the Montreal Canadiens
were seen sporting moustaches during the month of November, with a video appearing on the Canadiens homepage, thus confirming the worldwide spread of Movember.
2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button started support for Movember by showing off his blond moustache at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, returning the presence of the moustache on the F1 podium by finishing 3rd, the first since the 1994 Australian Grand Prix won by Nigel Mansell.
In 2009, many of the Australian rugby union team
players were seen sporting moustaches during the Autumn Test Series.
Many high-profile Australian sports people, celebrities, and dignitaries have supported the Movember Foundation, including World Champion surfer Mick Fanning
; author, columnist, and presenter Samantha Brett; Today
sports presenter Cameron Williams
; ex-Big Brother housemate Ryan Fitzgerald
; Queensland cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds
; and several AFL players. NHL "tough guy" George Parros, alongside Bill McCreary, shaved his mustache to participate in the 2010 Movember event. Brad Pozzi an Australian rules lineback.
issues in Australia and New Zealand. Monetary proceeds go toward the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and Beyond Blue.
In 2007, the Foundation launched campaigns in Canada (funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada), Spain (FEFOC), the United Kingdom (The Prostate Cancer Charity), and the United States (Prostate Cancer Foundation
LIVESTRONG
). In the US, Movember's men's health partners are The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.
In 2008, the Movember Foundation started the event in the Republic of Ireland
. The beneficiary in that country is Action Prostate Cancer, an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society
.
A non-foundation Movember event has been held in the Cayman Islands
by a "MOvember Committee" since 2006. The event has been sponsored by CML Offshore Recruitment and raises funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
The organization, which has raised $174-million worldwide since it was founded in 2004, is gaining popularity in the United States.
Movember started in Australia in 2003, from which it spread to South Africa and Europe, reaching America in 2006.
Known as Movember, the campaign is run by the Movember Foundation, which started in Australia in 2003 and came to the U.S. in 2007.
"Movember began in Melbourne, Australia and has grown to become a global effort with over 1.1 million participants in formal campaigns in countries including Australia, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Ireland, England, and the United States just to name a few. In 2010, participants in the United States alone raised over $7.5 million."
Seven Nightly News
aired a story in 1999 featuring a group of young men in Adelaide who claimed to have come up with idea of growing moustaches for charity in what "snowballed into a Mo-phenomenon, with people across Australia joining up". In the news report, members of the Adelaide-based "Movember Committee" explained how they came up with the idea for Movember one night in the pub. This Movember.org group was said to have 80 men from Adelaide and interstate involved in the event, and aimed to raise money for the RSPCA through selling T-shirts in what they termed "Growing whiskers for whiskers".
Seven News also reported that the committee had received legal threats from a San Francisco-based group called the "Moustache Celebration Federation" that had claimed they had trade marked the term "Movember" in 1977. A 2007 statement on the Committee's website states that upon following up on these threats it was discovered that neither the federation nor its alleged president, "Charles Kies III", actually existed. The committee still holds that its claims of having coined the term "Movember" in 1999 are "100% true".
The facial hair growing contest No Shave November has participants not shaving at all for the month.
Unlike Movember, No Shave November does not raise funds for testicular and prostate cancer research and allows participants to grow facial hair other than moustaches. Both men and women participate in the month-long event, with men abstaining from shaving their beards, and women their armpits or legs. In 2010, a website was mounted explaining the rules of the event, including #1 "No shaving in November and #2 "No shaving in November.
in Wellington
, New Zealand, several graduating students were banned from end-of-year prizes for growing moustaches and the college threatened to ban a senior student from their NCEA
examinations (official secondary school qualification) for growing a moustache during November.
In 2007, the Movember Foundation events were featured on Australian tabloid current affairs program Today Tonight
, which accused the foundation of spending a disproportionate amount on running costs and high salaries for its directors. The financial summary of the Australian 2008 Movember campaign listed campaign costs (administration and fundraising) as being 8% of the total amount raised. In 2007, campaign costs were listed as 9% of total amount raised. Givewell reports that in 2008, the "Average Fundraising Cost Ratio" (fundraising costs as percentage of total fundraising revenue) for Australian charities was 18%.
By encouraging men to go to the doctor, Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides getting an annual check-up, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of any family history of cancer, and to adopt a more healthy lifestyle.
Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
has run Movember events to raise awareness and funds for men's health
Men's health
Men's health refers to health issues specific to human male anatomy. These often relate to structures such as male genitalia or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, males....
issues, such as prostate cancer
Prostate cancer
Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Most prostate cancers are slow growing; however, there are cases of aggressive prostate cancers. The cancer cells may metastasize from the prostate to other parts of the body, particularly...
and depression
Clinical depression
Major depressive disorder is a mental disorder characterized by an all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem, and by loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities...
, in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
. In 2007, events were launched in Ireland, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Spain, the United Kingdom, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan and the United States.
It has spread from Australia to South Africa, Europe and North America. As of 2011 Canadians were the largest contributors to the Movember charities of any nation. In 2010, Movember merged with the testicular cancer event Tacheback
Tacheback
Tacheback is the name of a UK charitable event where each September, thousands of men grow a sponsored moustache for that month to raise money for the Everyman Campaign, a UK male cancer research charity which funds research in and awareness of male prostate and testicular cancers.The name is a mix...
.
A separate group, represented at Movember.org,claims their event was conceived in 1999 by a group of Australian men from Adelaide.
Rules
The rules of conduct given on the Movember site are:- Once registered at movember.com each mo bro must begin the 1st of Movember with a clean shaven face.
- For the entire month of Movember each mo bro must grow and groom a moustache.
- There is to be no joining of the mo to your side burns. (That’s considered a beard.)
- There is to be no joining of the handlebars to your chin. (That’s considered a goateeGoateeGoatee refers to a style of facial hair incorporating hair on a man’s chin. The exact nature of the style has varied according to time and culture.Traditionally, goatee refers solely to a beard formed by a tuft of hair on the chin...
.) - Each mo bro must conduct himself like a true country gentleman.
Movember.com Partners
In 2011, Google Chrome partnered with Movember to create a video. The video featured real participants, and how they utilize the web and Movember.com to raise awareness and funds for the cause. The video generated well over 1.1 million views. It featured the Handsome Furs song "Repatriated."In 2010 and 2011, Movember partnered with TOMS to create limited edition Movember shoes for those participating.
In 2011, Qantas supported Movember by painting a moustache and "Movember.com" on one of its airplanes.
Ambassadors
2011 Movember Ambassadors include:Justin Bieber
Cake (Musicians)
Foster the People (Musicians)
Morgan Spurlock
George Parros of the Anaheim Ducks
Snoop Dogg
Kevin Connolly
Brody Jenner
Matt Leinart
Bloomberg TV's Matt Miller
Mr. Clean
UFC Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar
Philip Bloom (Photographer)
In 2010, some of the Montreal Canadiens
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal Canadiens are a professional ice hockey team based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. They are members of the Northeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League . The club is officially known as ...
were seen sporting moustaches during the month of November, with a video appearing on the Canadiens homepage, thus confirming the worldwide spread of Movember.
2009 F1 World Champion Jenson Button started support for Movember by showing off his blond moustache at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, returning the presence of the moustache on the F1 podium by finishing 3rd, the first since the 1994 Australian Grand Prix won by Nigel Mansell.
In 2009, many of the Australian rugby union team
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
players were seen sporting moustaches during the Autumn Test Series.
Many high-profile Australian sports people, celebrities, and dignitaries have supported the Movember Foundation, including World Champion surfer Mick Fanning
Mick Fanning
Michael Eugene "Mick" Fanning, nicknamed "White Lightning", is an Australian professional surfer and dual world champion. Fanning won both the 2007 and 2009 ASP World Tour.-Early years:...
; author, columnist, and presenter Samantha Brett; Today
Today (Australian TV program)
Today and Weekend Today are Australian breakfast television programmes, the show is often referred to as The Today Show. The show has been broadcast live by the Nine Network each morning since 1982...
sports presenter Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams
Cameron Williams is an Australian journalist.Williams is currently co-host of Weekend Today alongside Leila McKinnon.- Career:Williams's journalism career began 1984 with a cadetship at The Courier-Mail newspaper in Brisbane. From there he moved to The Australian offices in Melbourne, where he...
; ex-Big Brother housemate Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan Fitzgerald
Ryan James "Fitzy" Fitzgerald is a former Australian rules footballer, Big Brother participant, and radio and television personality. After being drafted from the South Adelaide Football Club, he made his Australian Football League debut for Sydney in 2000, before being traded to Adelaide, where...
; Queensland cricket all-rounder Andrew Symonds
Andrew Symonds
Andrew Symonds is a former Australian cricket team all-rounder. A two-time World Cup winner, Symonds is a right-handed middle order batsman and alternates between medium pace and off-spin bowling....
; and several AFL players. NHL "tough guy" George Parros, alongside Bill McCreary, shaved his mustache to participate in the 2010 Movember event. Brad Pozzi an Australian rules lineback.
Charity Partners
Since 2004, the Movember Foundation charity has used Movember to raise awareness and funds for men's healthMen's health
Men's health refers to health issues specific to human male anatomy. These often relate to structures such as male genitalia or to conditions caused by hormones specific to, or most notable in, males....
issues in Australia and New Zealand. Monetary proceeds go toward the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, the Cancer Society and Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, and Beyond Blue.
In 2007, the Foundation launched campaigns in Canada (funds raised go to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada), Spain (FEFOC), the United Kingdom (The Prostate Cancer Charity), and the United States (Prostate Cancer Foundation
Prostate Cancer Foundation
The Prostate Cancer Foundation , formerly known as CaP CURE, is the world’s largest philanthropic source of support for prostate cancer research. PCF was founded in 1993 in order to discover better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer...
LIVESTRONG
Livestrong
Livestrong can refer to the following items evolving from the Lance Armstrong Foundation:*Livestrong wristband, a yellow wristband*Livestrong Sporting Park, soccer stadium in Kansas City, Kansas...
). In the US, Movember's men's health partners are The Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG.
In 2008, the Movember Foundation started the event in the Republic of Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. The beneficiary in that country is Action Prostate Cancer, an initiative of the Irish Cancer Society
Irish Cancer Society
The Irish Cancer Society is the national charity in the Ireland dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem, and improving the lives of those living with cancer ....
.
A non-foundation Movember event has been held in the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
by a "MOvember Committee" since 2006. The event has been sponsored by CML Offshore Recruitment and raises funds for the Cayman Islands Cancer Society.
Origins
"They set a humble goal back in 2003: get 30 men to grow their facial hair for 30 days to draw attention to men's cancers."The organization, which has raised $174-million worldwide since it was founded in 2004, is gaining popularity in the United States.
Movember started in Australia in 2003, from which it spread to South Africa and Europe, reaching America in 2006.
Known as Movember, the campaign is run by the Movember Foundation, which started in Australia in 2003 and came to the U.S. in 2007.
"Movember began in Melbourne, Australia and has grown to become a global effort with over 1.1 million participants in formal campaigns in countries including Australia, Canada, Spain, South Africa, Ireland, England, and the United States just to name a few. In 2010, participants in the United States alone raised over $7.5 million."
Seven Nightly News
Seven Network
The Seven Network is an Australian television network owned by Seven West Media Limited. It dates back to 4 November 1956, when the first stations on the VHF7 frequency were established in Melbourne and Sydney.It is currently the second largest network in the country in terms of population reach...
aired a story in 1999 featuring a group of young men in Adelaide who claimed to have come up with idea of growing moustaches for charity in what "snowballed into a Mo-phenomenon, with people across Australia joining up". In the news report, members of the Adelaide-based "Movember Committee" explained how they came up with the idea for Movember one night in the pub. This Movember.org group was said to have 80 men from Adelaide and interstate involved in the event, and aimed to raise money for the RSPCA through selling T-shirts in what they termed "Growing whiskers for whiskers".
Seven News also reported that the committee had received legal threats from a San Francisco-based group called the "Moustache Celebration Federation" that had claimed they had trade marked the term "Movember" in 1977. A 2007 statement on the Committee's website states that upon following up on these threats it was discovered that neither the federation nor its alleged president, "Charles Kies III", actually existed. The committee still holds that its claims of having coined the term "Movember" in 1999 are "100% true".
Similar events
The popularity of Movember as a charity has inspired other annual facial hair growing contests across the world, such as No Shave November. Such events are not affiliated with Movember, and are not registered charitable foundations, although some events are organized to raise money or awareness for charity.The facial hair growing contest No Shave November has participants not shaving at all for the month.
Unlike Movember, No Shave November does not raise funds for testicular and prostate cancer research and allows participants to grow facial hair other than moustaches. Both men and women participate in the month-long event, with men abstaining from shaving their beards, and women their armpits or legs. In 2010, a website was mounted explaining the rules of the event, including #1 "No shaving in November and #2 "No shaving in November.
Controversies
In November 2007 at Scots CollegeScots College, Wellington
Scots College is a private boys' primary and secondary school located in the suburb of Strathmore Wellington, New Zealand. The College comprises both the primary and secondary institutions - the primary school section is typically referred to as the Preparatory School and has its own Head Teacher...
in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand, several graduating students were banned from end-of-year prizes for growing moustaches and the college threatened to ban a senior student from their NCEA
National Certificate of Educational Achievement
The National Certificate of Educational Achievement is, since 2004, the official secondary school qualification in New Zealand.It has three levels, corresponding to the levels within the National Qualifications Framework, and these are generally studied in each of the three final years of...
examinations (official secondary school qualification) for growing a moustache during November.
In 2007, the Movember Foundation events were featured on Australian tabloid current affairs program Today Tonight
Today Tonight
Today Tonight is a controversial Australian News and Current Affairs program, produced by the Seven Network and shown weeknightly at in direct competition with rival Nine Network program A Current Affair....
, which accused the foundation of spending a disproportionate amount on running costs and high salaries for its directors. The financial summary of the Australian 2008 Movember campaign listed campaign costs (administration and fundraising) as being 8% of the total amount raised. In 2007, campaign costs were listed as 9% of total amount raised. Givewell reports that in 2008, the "Average Fundraising Cost Ratio" (fundraising costs as percentage of total fundraising revenue) for Australian charities was 18%.
External links
- The Official Movember Website, Movember Foundation webportal (Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, USA, U.K.)
- The Original ('MOfficial') Movember Website Movember Committee, since 1999 (movember.org)