Movember, a much look forwarded to event that gives the men and possibly a few women the opportunity to grow their facial hair for a good cause. The cause being Men’s Health, by encouraging men (whom the charity refers to as “Mo Bros”) to get involved. Movember aims to increase early cancer detection, diagnosis and effective treatments, and ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths. Besides annual check-ups, the Movember Foundation encourages men to be aware of family history of cancer and to adopt a healthier lifestyle.
The Minnesota Wild’s Movember campaign, presented by Jack Link’s ® Jerky, kicked off with a MO Down Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Wild’s 7 p.m. game versus the Dallas Stars at Xcel Energy Center. The Wild’s Justin Fontaine, who had the “Best Mo’” on the team last season, serves as the team’s Movember captain this season.
The rules are easy. No growing head starts. No beards or goatees. Clean face on November 1st.
1. Must grow and groom moustache.
2. No fake it.
3. Must use moustache as conversation starters to raise funds and awareness of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and metal health.
4. Each Mo must conduct himself as a gentleman.
We are half way through Movember (formally known as November) and a lot of Justin Fontaine’s team mates are giving him a good run for the title.
Kyle Brodziak and Ryan Carter specifically are sporting pretty good cookie dusters. Jason Zucker is right up there with them but needs to review the rules – his beard is overpowering his stash. One would have to look twice to see the scruff that could pass as possible mustache growth on players like Jonas Brodin and Christine Folin. No matter, they are supporting the cause and that is what it is really all about.
Hard to believe that this all started with 30 Mo Bros in Melbourne, Australia in 2003. Movember, through the power of the moustache, has become a truly global movement growing to 4 million Mo’s in 2013, literally and figuratively changing the face of men’s health. This year, over 155,000 have registered in the United States followed by Canada with 107,000- each country raising 7.5 million dollars.
Over 300 NHL players participated last year. Checking with rival teams’ mo grow, the Los Angeles Kings have Drew Doughty leading the pack. Doughty, whose facial hair has been nicknamed “The drewmanchou”, is rumored to have not been clean shaven on November 1st, which could disqualify him from any hairy lip title. No matter, the Kings have Brayden McNabb, Andy Andreoff and Alec Martinez to pick up the slack. The Blackhawks have whole new group of mo men this year, so there is no one defending champion. Ironically the St Louis Blues make no mention on their website about participating in Movemeber , which may prove embarrassing since the month’s festivities will culminate in the Wild’s annual Movember night on Saturday, Nov. 29, when the Wild hosts the St. Louis Blues at 7 p.m.
