Movember Changes the Face of Men’s Health

As November comes to a close, mustaches are everywhere in support of the worldwide men's health initiative known as Movember.

During November each year, mustaches sprout on thousands of men's faces around the world to raise vital awareness and funds for men's health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

These men, known as Mo Bros, start Movember 1 clean shaven. For the rest of the month, they  groom, trim and wax their way into fine moustachery.

Mo Bros, with support from their Mo Sistas, seek out sponsorship to raise funds for their mustache-growing efforts.

The funds raised in the U.S. support the Prostate Cancer Foundation and LIVESTRONG Foundation. Prostate cancer is second only to skin cancer as the most common cancer diagnosis in men, according to the American Cancer Society.

In 2011, over 854,000 men and women around the world got on board, raising $126.3 million.

Movember participants are encouraged to organize local events. The New Jersey Beard and Mustache Club held a bowling party on Nov. 17 in Washington Township to raise funds for Movember.

Team Stantec New Jersey has raised $910 so far in its Movember efforts and ranks 3,050 out of 14,530 teams in the U.S. As a whole, Stantec U.S. has raised $6,310.

Another Movember team, called Grow for the Bros, has raised $2,628 with the help of their open bar and live band event in Hoboken on Nov. 17. The team of 20 ranks 902 out of 14530 teams in the U.S.

The team's motivation quote reads, "Who's the kind of Bro that grows a MO: a son, a brother, a father, an uncle, a friend. Real men talking about real men's health issues in the manliest way possible - by growing a mo. Take on the challenge this Movember and stand up for men's health."

As Movember nears its conclusion, the abundance of facial hair may decline, but the mustache theme doesn't seem to be going anywhere.

Mustaches have made their way into the fashion world, taking over clothing and accessories in a variety of stores. You can even buy a mustache for your car.