Hey All You Sellecks, Chaplins, Fu-Manchus, & Handlebar Hanks

Movember, the World’s Largest Funder of Prostate Cancer Research, is Now Open for Registration for its 4th Canadian Campaign

Movember kicks off its 4th annual campaign in Canada today, challenging men across the country to show their support by growing a Mo (slang for moustache) this November. To help support Prostate Cancer Awareness Week (September 19-25), today, men and women across the country can raise funds and awareness for Prostate Cancer Canada by registering at www.Movember.com. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting Canadian men; during his lifetime, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with the disease, and this number is expected to rise to 1 in 4 within a decade.

Rates of prostate cancer in men are comparable to breast cancer rates in women, with a man being diagnosed with the disease every 2.7 minutes. According to recent findings, men are 40 per cent more likely than women to die from cancer due to the simple act of putting off doctor visits and failing to lead a proactively healthy lifestyle.

Movember, the month formerly known as November, aims to change these statistics by creating a global focus on cancers affecting men. Each Movember, men are challenged to start the month clean-shaven and grow a moustache. The moustache becomes the hairy ribbon for men’s health and the guys growing them become a walking billboard for 30 days. The growth of a new moustache sparks hundreds of conversations about the seemingly taboo topics of men’s health and prostate cancer.

Movember began in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia. The guys behind it joked about 80s fashion and decided it was time to bring back the moustache. In order to justify their “Mo” (Aussie slang for moustache), they used their new looks to raise some awareness and money for prostate cancer research... never dreaming their efforts would lead to a global movement for men’s health. To date, more than 627,000 Movember “Mos” have been grown to raise over $100 million to change the face of men’s health.

“Its hard to believe what began as a bit of a joke has turned into a global movement for men’s health. It’s humbling to see so many men and women passionately support this cause,” said Adam Garone, CEO and Co-Founder of Movember. “These days you can’t grow a moustache without people asking what’s going on, and that leads to amazing conversations about cancers that affect men.”

This November will mark the 4th Movember campaign in the Canada, which will continue to raise funds for Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC). In 2009, 35,958 Mo Bros and Sistas used the power of the Mo to raise almost $8 million for the PCC.

“For Prostate Cancer Canada moustaches have made all the difference. Thanks to the funds raised by Movember we are now in a much better position to focus on the elimination of this disease through research, education, support and awareness – and to better support those currently afflicted,” said Steve Jones, CEO and President, Prostate Cancer Canada, ”1 in 6 Canadian men will be affected by this disease in their lifetime, it is our job to ensure that they know the facts and have they support they need.”

Participation in Movember is not only fun, but simple. Starting today, men and women can register to join the campaign at www.Movember.com. Whether on their own or as part of a team, they have the month of November to grow and show their “Mo”. Friends, family, and colleagues can show their support by sponsoring the Mo-growing efforts and donating funds to support the PCC. Women who register to join the campaign act as ambassadors for the “Mo,” spreading the word and showing their support for the men in their life. Participants celebrate their “Mo” at the end of November, attending Movember’s official Gala Partés or hosting their own local event. The campaign is largely run online, making it a unique digital charity campaign.

Why all the moustaches? It’s time men and women understand the facts:

• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 3 women will be diagnosed.

• 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. One new case occurs every 2.7 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes.

• Rates of prostate cancer in men are comparable to rates of breast cancer in women.

• The World Health Organization projects that in 2010, cancer will become the leading cause of death globally, surpassing heart disease and stroke.

Movember’s 2010 Canadian major partners include Canadian Club, Mercedes-Benz Canada, and Schick.

Movember is the world’s largest charity event raising funds for cancer affecting men- specifically prostate cancer. Each November, Movember invites men across the globe to grow moustaches (or “Mos”) while raising funds and awareness for men’s health. Movember aims to forever change the face of men’s health, by raising awareness and funds that will reduce the number of preventable male deaths by cancer. For more information please visit www.movember.com

Smelly Feet and The Men Who Own Them

My boyfriend’s feet are gross. His toenails are long and dirty and his feet smell. I ask him to take better care of himself but he gets angry and tells me to let him be a man – is this true? Are men really like this?

H.M. Calgary

Yes, some men are like this and while they may pretend or even protest that their shoddy physical appearance is okay and perhaps more manly – they know the real truth they just don’t care. It’s not important to them and that is why they pay little attention to the issue. Remember, nothing gets in between a man and something or someone he wants. So if a guy has a blind spot in his personality or appearance it’s because he has taken his focus off of it. I’ve worked with many guys who pay great attention to their personal appearance and very little to other aspects of their lives. I’ve also met men who have success, great relationships, even their health and yet, their toenails are claws or they have fur growing out of their nose and ears.

Any guy who tells you that walking around like a Wookie makes him manlier is hoping you buy his weak excuse for a lack of focus and leave him alone. By shining a light on your boyfriend’s toes you are effectively telling him in his mind that he has a flaw. Generally men are not so good at hearing that they have flaws because many of us are doing our best to be flawless hence in vulnerable. So the best defense against being weak is to come up with a story that said behaviour is in fact manlier. It’s a pretty thin defense if you ask me and one which makes the man appear frail in character. I wish more guys would stand in the heat of the spotlight more often because they would learn something key about relationships with women. Women like to leave a man better than when they found him. So a woman who takes the time to lovingly suggest ways in which a guy can transform himself is actually grooming that man to be his best. Deep down no woman wants to be in a relationship with a man she can’t show off. So she spends a lot of her relationship focus nudging him to change. As a rule, when men get together we tend to pay less attention to how another guy looks or smells rather, we measure a guy by his commitment to values like honesty, trust, accountability, courage and kindness.

Your boyfriend is feeding you a line about his toes and in the process is proving that he is still a boy at heart. So, I guess you have a choice. Put up with it or, make it a deal-breaker. How the two of you deal with this though will set the tone for how you both navigate the difficult issues and problems that true intimacy will bring.