It's Movember, a month to raise awareness and funds for men's health.
What started out as a fundraiser for prostate cancer, has evolved into a fundraiser for health and suicide prevention and testicular cancer.
According to the Movember website, on average, men die four years earlier than women in Canada and globally, men are dying six years earlier than women, for largely preventable reasons.
With the pressures of COVID-19, now more than ever men are in need of help.
Every November, all over the world individuals take part in the Movember moustache growing event, while raising money for groundbreaking health projects, – 1,250 and counting – uniting experts from all over the world to accelerate research, progress and change for men's health.
On Tuesday night's meeting of Bradford Council, Coun. Peter Ferragine challenged his fellow councillors to a moustache growing contest. Ferragine participates in the event every year and is hoping to raise awareness about a campaign that is very important to him.
"It's a fun way to raise awareness and obtain donations for serious health issues," he said. "Over my lifetime I have unfortunately seen friends and family members pass away from some of these health issues. I'm trying to do my part by playing a small roll to pitch in and help."
Ferragine has participated in the challenge since 2009, sometimes with team members and sometimes on his own. His team name 'The Super Mo Bros' is inspired by Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers.
"The two most iconic moustaches in gaming history belong to The Super Mario Brothers, and I am a big fan since I grew up with them," said Ferragine.
Can't grow a mo? 'Mo' Problem!
There are other ways to get involved in this year's fundraising event.
- Run/Walk 60km in one month: 60 km for the 60 men lost to suicide, each hour, every hour across the world. Do it as a team or go solo.
- Host a Mo-ment: Rally a crew and do something fun. Hosting is all about having a good time for a good cause. And you can always put a virtual spin on your plans. The best part? Virtual events are easy to organize, cheap to run and you can go in your slippers. Think an online gaming tournament, Mo Bingo or a virtual trivia night.
- Mo Your Own Way: A choose-your-own-adventure challenge, epic in scope and scale. You make the rules. You set the limits and chase them down. You inspire donations with sheer grit
With the money raised, Movember can continue to deliver the kind of programs, information and awareness that will help the community weather this storm and beyond, and to keep lifesaving cancer research and trials on track. The goal is to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 percent and halving the number of deaths from prostate and testicular cancer by 2030.
Ferragine is recruiting members to join his team for the 2020 challenge.
"You can also donate to my team, any little bit helps," he said. "Let's all work together to better our world and help those in need."
To participate or donate to Ferragine's Movember campaign, click here.
