![During November, men from around the world grew hair on their upper lips. [Movember.com]](http://www.jstudentboard.com/reporter/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/1214mustaches.jpg)
No Shave November, also known as “Movember,” began in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia by a group of friends who wanted to revive mustaches as a fashion trend. After realizing the mere fun of it, they decided the event could be used to raise awareness for prostate and testicular cancers.
After signing up online, participants find sponsors to donate money to men’s health causes. In its second year, the event grew to have 450 participants, and together they raised $43,000. According to the project’s website, since then they’ve “raised over $650 million and helped fund 1,000 breakthrough men’s health programs in 21 countries.”
Getting involved in the event is simple. Participants start on November 1 with a clean-shaven face and then grow a mustache for 30 days. Any sort of shaving, cutting, or trimming one’s facial hair is forbidden for the entire month. Participants keep close track of every dollar they don’t spend on shaving, as that money can be donated to the cause.
Several male teachers at Korea International School participated this year.
“Not only is it a wonderful way to raise awareness of the cancer epidemic, but also it is a great way to start up a conversation with other mustache-friends as well,” remarked Mr. Selbo, a high school 3D Art teacher.
According to statistics from the American Cancer Society (ASC), 8,430 cases of testicular cancer are diagnosed annually, causing 380 deaths. For prostate cancer, the ASC claims that 14% of people will be diagnosed with the disease at some point in their lifetime, with the number of deaths being 21.4 per 100,000 men per year.
As a global movement, every dollar is as important in the fight against prostate and testicular cancer.
