The month of Movember, formerly known as November, will be getting a little hairier than usual this year. The “Mo” (Australian for mustache) inspired the Australian-originated Movember organization which raises awareness for men’s health and money for prostate cancer research through the growing of mustaches. Yes, you read that correctly, mustaches. Last year, Movember raised over $80 million for research. Those are some powerful mustaches! This year, Sidney-Pacific is organizing the first, MIT campus-wide Movember effort where students will come together and pledge not to shave throughout the month of November. Students form teams on the Movember.com website and each student asks friends and family to donate to his growing stache. All proceeds are donated to Movember, a 501-(c)(3) charity, which is partnered with the National Prostate Cancer Foundation. Sidney-Pacific has reached out across campus to recruit as many Mo Bro’s and Mo Sista’s as possible. Over 90 students have come together through 10 teams representing AeroAstro, TPP, Biological Engineering, HST, Sloan, along with a handful of the undergrad fraternities and we have raised $1300 so far! At the end of Movember, when the mustaches are fully ripe, all participants will celebrate with a Movember Gala Parte on December 1st in Boston.
Prostate cancer affects 1 in 6 men during their lifetime. Because we all care about 6+ men, it is important that we address this issue and work together to attack the challenge of finding a cure. Movember addresses this problem through raising awareness for men’s health and money for research. In support of these efforts, the MIT Movember goal is to raise over $3000 toward this crucial cause. Help support MIT staches by finding the MIT Network on Movember.com, because we cannot grow them without you.
By Emily Calandrelli, SP Outreach Chair