MOvember: Local Area Residents Raise Cancer Awareness through Moustache Contest

Local fundraiser, Alex Lamontagne invites participation in “Movember” a world-wide fund raising drive to benefit research in cancers that affect men. “As many capital residents are aware, October is the official month for breast cancer awareness. People and organizations sport the colour pink as a means to raise awareness and support. Since 2007, Prostate Cancer Canada has begun a marketing campaign with similar objectives. However, instead of sporting a particular colour, they actively encourage men to sport moustaches,” says Lamontagne who decided to partake in this year’s campaign.

Movember (the month formerly known as November) is an annual moustache growing charity event held every November which raises funds and awareness for cancers that affect men. At the start of Movember, guys register with a clean shaven face. The Movember participants, known as Mo Bros, have the remainder of the month to grow and groom their Mo, raising money along the way to benefit men’s health.

Keep up with Alex’s whisker on his “mo space” page and feel free to make a donation.

At the end of the month, OLM will feature the best ‘staches of 2010 Submit your before/after Movember Moustache image to OLM Editor

Every two minutes, someone is diagnosed with Cancer. Together, we can make a difference.

MESSAGE FROM ALEX:

Dec 1 marks the end of the Movember campaign. As like most men this am, i took the clipper to my stach, as a token celebration of what has simply been an unbelievable month. I wanted to take this last opportunity to thank you all again for your incredible support during this month. In particular, i wanted to share with you the following information:

• Alex’s fundraising – As of about 8:30 Dec 1, an astronomical $1,330 has been raised!!!! To add some context, my initial fundraising goal was set at $200, a mark that was eclipsed by day 2. I then bumped up the number to $500, which again was met in about a week’s time. From there, i shot for the sky and went for $1,000. Around week 3 or so, the donations had hit a plateau at around the $630 mark. I sent around one last e-mail and in only 3 hours!!!!, our target had been reached once again.
• Movember campaign 101 – with the campaign coming to a close, 118, 597 Canadians men helped to raise 19 million dollars, finishing number 1 world wide in funds raised. Internationally, 446,572 men successfully raised a mind popping $58 million dollars for Prostate Research and Awareness Campaigns!
• Last reminder, get checked!!! – Prostate Cancer is the most common form of Cancer among Canadian men, and sadly, will afflict one in six men this year alone. Most tumours will grow slowly and it can take years for them to be large enough to be detectable. Many cases go undiagnosed due to men’s unwillingness to go for annual check ups. Now is the time to break down the stereotypes that exist out there, that its taboo to get checked. Talk with your loved ones and together, we will make a difference.

On behalf of all the men around the world who have benefitted from your words of encouragement, support, and donations this last month, a heart felt thank you is in order : )

Cheers. AL