Whether you prefer “Movember” or “No Shave November,” November is men’s health awareness month.
Health awareness for men is especially important as men are statistically less likely to go to the doctor than women, even after accounting for women’s unique health needs. You might see more mustaches this season—there are a few charities that utilize the mustache aesthetic as a part of their mission to raise money and awareness for men’s health issues this month.
Movember for Men's Health Awareness
Movember is named after the British slang for moustache, “mo.” What started off as a small effort to increase awareness about men’s health issues, including mental health, has grown into a truly global phenomenon. Participants grow out their facial hair for the month, or can participate in other ways if growing facial hair is not an option.
No Shave November
No Shave November was started to raise money for cancer research and programs. The basic premise is that whatever money you would have spent that month on shaving (razors, cream, etc.), you donate to the cause. The charity was started by a group of siblings who lost their father to colon cancer in November 2007.
ZERO
Zero supports prostate cancer research and programs specifically for prostate cancer patients and survivors. The charity is named for the first generation of men who will not be affected by the scourge of prostate cancer—generation zero. It is the charity’s goal to completely eradicate prostate cancer.
There are countless other charities specifically working on issues specifically related to men’s health and men’s health awareness. The most important thing is to do some research on any charity you might be interested in donating to—not all charities are equal.
Charity Navigator is a good resource to search for charities and see if your dollars are really going to the cause you support, or if you should consider a different charity option instead.
Read more:
Men’s Health Risks and What You Can Do about Them
