In the month of November, there is a men’s health awareness campaign called “Movember” (Australia) or “No Shave November” (USA). The two events are similar, but there are some key differences.
Movember
Movember started in Australia in 2003 when a group of friends decided to make mustaches trendy again. They wanted to support an important cause in the process, so they decided to promote men’s health and prostate cancer awareness. They charged 10 Australian dollars (AUD) to grow a mustache, donating the money to charity. In the first year, 30 people grew a mustache for the event. The next year, they started an official website. In 2006, they expanded the cause to include depression and anxiety. Now, their four formal causes have expanded to include prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health, and physical inactivity, and the organization has raised more than AUD 730 million.
For more information, visit movember.com
No Shave November
No Shave November started in the USA in 2009, two years after an American man named Matthew Hill died of colorectal cancer. His family adapted the idea of Movember to promote their idea of not shaving at all during the month of November, while donating the expenses that would typically be used on razors and shaving cream to charities that support research into illnesses such as prostate, testicular, and colorectal cancer. To date, the organization has raised more than $10 million.
For more information, visit no-shave.org
How to Celebrate:
Over the years, people have created various social challenges and traditions in order to participate in the campaign. For example:
- A teacher explains his journey in celebrating the holiday
- A university student newspaper explains the role of women in the campaign
Special Topic: Remembering Chadwick Boseman
In August 2020, Chadwick Boseman died of colorectal cancer. Some fans of Chadwick Boseman choose to celebrate his legacy on his birthday, November 29th. Fittingly enough, this celebration happens to be during No Shave November.
- Grieving Chadwick Boseman: It’s Always Exhausting To Be Black In America, But This Week Was Especially Brutal
