Men—including me—need your help, and not just with our personal hygiene.
An incredible international charity event known as “Movember” needs you.
Movember is a month-long event raising money for prostate cancer research by having men grow mustaches. It’s a two-pronged approach we hope will literally “change the face of men’s health”: first, the men’s mustaches will raise prostate cancer awareness (I think you would notice if one of your co-workers suddenly showed up to work looking like Burt Reynolds from “Boogie Nights”); and second, men and women create teams in order to collect donations. And while we really appreciate your help raising money, women growing mustaches is severely frowned upon (at least by me).
I’d like to share with you some facts about prostate cancer:
- Currently 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetime.
- A man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a women is to be diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Every 16 minutes, a man dies from prostate cancer.
- Getting checked for prostate cancer really stinks.
Now, I may not be a 45-year-old man at risk for prostate cancer, but I’m hoping that someday I will be (and as handsome and successful as Don Draper!), which is why I’m growing my mustache and raising money for this noble cause. And while money is great, the biggest problem surrounding prostate cancer is the lack of awareness.
Most men have no idea what it is, when to get checked, or in some cases even refuse to get checked (have I mentioned getting checked is really not fun?).
So, help me spread the word. Tell everyone. Tell your co-workers, your friends, your family, even your Facebook or Twitter followers, because the more people that help, the more likely it is I’ll never have to get a prostate exam.
If you want to support that guy in the cubicle next to you that you thought was cute, but now looks like he will be starring on tonight’s episode of “To Catch A Predator,” head to the website to donate money, join a team, or just learn more. And here are two local teams to sponsor: “The Mini-Ditkas” (my team, click here to donate, here to join); and another Chicago-area team with North Shore ties is “Matt’s Team” (not a very creative name, but still great guys, click here to donate, here to join).
Thank you for helping us in our fight against prostate cancer.
Sean Foreman of Wilmette is an intern at Make It Better and a senior at Washington University in St. Louis.
