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The Down Low On The Mo

October 31, 2011

By Alexandra DeLory

Over the last few years, each November, you may have noticed a little something happening on the upper lip of many men throughout Canada and around the world.

Legend has it that Movember began around 2003 in Melbourne Australia when a group of "Country Gentlemen" were discussing the attention that breast cancer awareness groups had managed to proliferate for their cause. The world goes pink in support of women's health in October; why shouldn't men's health enjoy the same attention?

This humble Australian MOvement has grown to become a global trend. Movember has inspired over 1.1 million "Mo Bros" and "Mo Sistas" from Canada to Antarctica to Mumbai, to participate in a formal campaign to help create awareness and raise vital funds needed to support Men’s Health and specifically Prostate Cancer.

Being apart of this hairy campaign is easy.

On Movember 1st, men are asked to register at Movember.com. They must begin with a clean-shaven face and for the rest of the month, these men, known as Mo Bros, "groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery".

Next, supported by the women in their lives or Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.

At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.

Mo Sistas do you ever have trouble getting your Mo Bro to the doc? Well Movember is fighting to change that. No matter the country or city, the Movember mission is to change the established habits and attitudes men have toward their health and well-being.

Educating men about the health risks they face and getting them to act on that knowledge can only increase the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment against Prostate Cancer.

In 2010, nearly 119,000 Canadian Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising $22.3 million CAD.

Want to know how you can participate in Movember?

Do you want to be a Mo Bro or a Mo Sista?

Here are the rules as set out by Movember Canada:

1. BEGIN THE 1ST OF MOVEMBER WITH A CLEAN SHAVEN FACE.

2. FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH OF MOVEMBER EACH MO BRO MUST GROW AND GROOM A MOUSTACHE.

3. THERE IS TO BE NO JOINING OF THE MO TO YOUR SIDE BURNS. (THAT’S CONSIDERED A BEARD)

4. THERE IS TO BE NO JOINING OF THE HANDLEBARS TO YOUR CHIN. (THAT’S CONSIDERED A GOATEE)

5. EACH MO BRO MUST CONDUCT HIMSELF LIKE A TRUE COUNTRY GENTLEMAN.

Visit the official Movember Canada Website