Kokova Magazine

Movember, the month formerly known as November, is when brave and selfless men around the world grow a moustache, with the support of the women in their lives, to raise awareness and funds for men's health - specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

Movember was established in 2003 by a few friends over a beer in a pub just outside Melbourne, Australia.

The goal was simple - to create a campaign promoting the growth of the moustache among likeminded people and having fun along the way.

It is about real men, talking about real issues and changing the face of men's health, one moustache at a time.

Movember now spans the globe, with campaigns in 21 countries in 2012.

• Movember is about real men growing real moustaches and talking about real issues
• The Moustache is our ribbon for men’s health
• Movember is about changing the face of men’s health, one moustache at a time
• Mo Bros sporting upper lip hair effectively become walking talking billboards for the 30 days of Movember raising funds and much needed awareness around the often ignored issues of men’s health
• In 2011, over 854,288 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £79.3 million globally
• In 2011 over 254,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £22 million in the UK
• Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia in 2003, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement with campaigns in 21 countries in 2012
• Mo Bros start the month clean shaven, then grow and groom their moustache all month long
• Mo Bros and Mo Sistas can register to participate at www.movember.com

Key Health Messages

• 1 in 9 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK - one man is diagnosed every 15 minutes
• A man will die from prostate cancer every hour - more than 10,000 men will die of the disease this year in the UK
• African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer
• You are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer if your father or brother has had it
• Occurrences of prostate cancer in men are comparable to the rates of breast cancer in women
• 2,209 men in the UK were diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009
• 47% of testicular cancer cases occur in men under 35 years and over 90% occur in men under 55 years

How do Mo Bros and Mo Sistas get involved?
Register individually or as a team and create a new look by growing a moustache for the 30 days.

Mo Sistas can get involved by raising awareness and supporting the men around them. Motivate your friends and family to donate and support your mo growing efforts. Discuss men's health and encourage the men around you to know their health and be aware of early warning signs and celebrate the power of the Mo and your achievements during Movember

Where does the money go?
In 2011, over 854,288 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £79.3 million globally; with over £22 million of that coming from the UK.

Funds raised in the UK are directed to programmes run by Movember and our men’s health partners Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research.

For more information visit www.movember.com

Hairy' on down to Ripley's Believe It Or Not!

Ripley's Believe It Or Not! London is offering a £5 discount for visitors who embrace their facial fuzz or don a comedy moustache in aid of national charity event Movember next month.

Mo Bro's and Sista's who turn up at the top London attraction with wild whiskers or tickly 'taches (either real or fake) between the 1st and 30th November 2012 will be able to take advantage of discounted entry.

Those who appreciate a good 'tache can check out Fedor Jeftichew - better known as tJo-Jo the Dog-Faced Boyt in the Ripleyts gallery. Born in Russia with a rare genetic disease, Fedorts entire body was covered with long silky hair which grew to an impressive 20cm long on his face.

Other hair-raising exhibits include a lock of Napoleonts hair, hair from a real woolly mammoth and a range of unbelievable hair-balls which were found inside the stomachs of pigs and cows - one of which measures10cm wide.

Staff will also be getting in the spirit of Movember by sporting comedy moustaches throughout the month.

Ripleyts Believe It or Not! London is open seven days a week, 365 days a year from 10am until midnight.

Visit www.ripleyslondon.com for further information.