Movember takes place every November and this year, the theme of the campaign is to call upon people to make a Growmitment. A Growmitment is your commitment to changing men’s health, whether this be by way of fundraising or donation, in order to help men live healthier, longer lives.

It is reported that men die nearly five years earlier than women, many from preventable reasons. Movember is all about raising awareness to men’s health including mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer to help prevent men dying too young.

Movember started 22 years ago with one simple idea in mind, which was to “get a few mates to grow moustaches and start a serious conversation about men’s health that no one else was having”. What started as a bit of facial hair has grown into a global health movement over the 22 years and has funded vital prevention-focused work across men’s health, as well as important research by the Movember Institute of Men’s Health which aims to turn insight into action.

Although Movember started out with the campaign to “Grow a Mo”, starting on 1 November clean shaven and growing a moustache over the course of the month, and remain synonymous with this, it is just one way that you can raise awareness. Other ways to raise awareness include:

• “Move for Mental Health”, which involves moving for 60km this November, whether by way of walking, running, cycling or swimming included.
• “Host your own Mo-ment” to raise awareness and funds for Movember. Do things like hosting a Quiz night or dinner party to raise money.

If you didn’t want to get involved in hosting, moving or growing but still want to support this important cause, you can donate straight on their website: Movember – Donate

To find out more information, please visit How to support Movember’s fundraising for men’s health – Movember