Movember and Hong Kong Cancer Fund link-up: not all about the ‘mo’

Since its creation in 2004, the Movember Foundation has raised almost US$830 million (HK$6.5 billion) for men’s health initiatives around the globe. Although the charity has become synonymous with people being sponsored to grow moustaches during the month of November, it plans to encourage further participation in the local Hong Kong community by linking with the Hong Kong Cancer Fund (HKCF) – and emphasising that there is more to Movember than the “mo”.

“It’s not all about the moustache, as that’s very limited: it takes off half the population in terms of male and female and, for some people, it can be a challenge,” says James Carlile, 28, a volunteer ambassador for Movember Hong Kong. “Others might have beliefs or their own reasons not to grow moustaches. Movember has diversified in recent years, which has really helped not only bring it out of the expatriate community, but also in terms of gender diversification.”

Testicular and prostate cancers are the causes most commonly associated with the charity, which also prioritises mental health and suicide prevention under its mission statement: “Stop men dying too young.”

The concept of growing moustaches to raise money grew out of the founders’ observation that men seemed to be less comfortable about discussing their health than women were, meaning some problems were being left undiagnosed and untreated. Quirky and attention-grabbing, sprouting a moustache or another facial hair style proved a sure-fire conversation starter that got people talking about Movember.

“The moustache is always going to be at the core of what we do – it’s our ribbon, our marketing campaign, it’s what we’re known for. And it’s been successful,” says Robert Dunne, Movember’s country manager for New Zealand, while visiting Hong Kong in October. “Doing a charity in a fun, non-traditional way breaks down the barriers between men and health. We are significant funders of men’s health initiatives around the world.”

Prostate cancer, which occurs when cells reproduce more quickly than usual, is one of the most common cancers affecting older men in developed countries. It occurs more in men of African and Afro-Caribbean descent. In the past, prostate cancer incidence has been reported as much lower in Asian countries, though rates have been rising in recent decades due to shifts towards more Westernised diets, according to the World Health Organisation.