Movember is Here
Exclusive interview with Pete Shorney
We are now entering the month formerly known as November. What is Movember, you may ask? The currently clean-shaven Pete Shorney is here to explain all.
Could you introduce yourself for our readers?
I'm Pete Shorney, Peter on official documentation only, and copywriter in Intelligent Retail's SEO team.
So, what is Movember?
Movember was started to raise awareness of prostate cancer, as well as charity funding for research. By growing a "mo" - which isn't the most fashionable facial hair style a man can sport today - it acts as a something of a badge. Successful charities choose a theme that often has fun as a core strategy, and it's certainly a way for men to do their bit. Although, women can join their "Mo Bros" and become "Mo Sistas" to raise money too. My own team is small at the moment; we're called The Moalition and enjoying being involved.
When was the campaign founded, and what progress has it made since then?
It was started in Australia in 2003, and has become a global campaign. Over £26million has been raised so far, with UK fundraiser money going to Britain's TPCC (The Prostate Cancer Charity). The result of this fundraising has led to the following developments, which have really impacted upon men's health (quoted from http://uk.movemberfoundation.com):
- 54% talked about men’s health issues with others, with 30% of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember
- 22% did some of their own research into men’s health issues, with 51% of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember
- 50% participated or donated to other charities, with 6% of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember
- 35% sought medical advice, with 10% of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember
- 38% encouraged someone else to seek medical advice, with 20% of those attributing that directly to their involvement in Movember
Is this the first time you've gotten involved?
No, I took part last year, and enjoyed having a moustache so much I kept it until January! We raised around £70, which was a respectable amount I think. Every little bit helps. Even a couple of quid here and there makes all the difference.
Will your style be inspired by any celebrity icons?
Absolutely! I think I pull off a magnificent Tom Selleck-style moustache. It's a winner!
How can we donate to the Moalition?
You can go to http://uk.movember.com and tap in my, or The Moalition's, name, or from this link to my "MoSpace" page: http://uk.movember.com/mospace/176713. As I say, even £2 is a big help, and massively appreciated.
What else can we do to show our support?
From the MoSpace page, you can post directly to Facebook, Twitter, e-mail, or find out more and share videos from our YouTube channel, Movember TV. You can also buy fun merchandise from the Movember site.
Are there any photos you'd like to share?
At present, my face is particularly boring, but I will be posting my progress on my MoSpace, so check back...
Any final words?
Only to ask anyone reading this to spread the word, and just donate a little bit to help. Around 36,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer a year in the UK, and all donations are useful. I also want to just say thanks to those that have donated already, and thank you to anyone about to. It really does mean a lot.
