I was surprised this year by the apparent surge in popularity of the charity-come-cool event that is Movember, a group month-long facial hair growth that raises money for Prostate Cancer awareness, and you guessed it lasts for the month of November. It was a huge to-do in Australia with many people taking up the sport to see who could grow the biggest oral shrubbery, and often quite prominent in the media in the lead up and during the month. But I don’t remember it being terribly big here in London last year, which seems to have changed a fair bit this year as it’s been in the papers a few times, and a few of the peeps at work seem to be taking part.
I myself didn’t shave for the first 16 days of the month, but caved in last week when the attempt to grow a full beard failed miserably with sporadic poor looking growth over most of my cheek area, so until I become more of a man, it’s back to the Craig David for the near future. Not to say he’s not a man, just that strip lining the chin line I’ve taken to naming after him, as I’m sure others have before. (What the hell happened to that guy)
I think Movember is a perfect example of a charity event where adding a bit of fun to it can get the masses involved (even if in this case, the masses are predominantly male), and a quick peruse of the Movember page backs this up. In Australia alone over 120,000 people have entered and are collecting donations with over AUD$8million collected so far, with the rest of the world included (apporiximately 170,000 in total) that total is closer to $12million or over five million pounds.
So whether its the 70′s porno, the handlebars, the bikie goatie, the hitler/chaplin toothbrush or any other type of growth your into, those who didn’t participate in the charity event (me), get into it next year, I definitely will. As an incredibly self centered reader posted in the paper (something to the effect of):
“Yea, I always laugh at this time of year, seeing wallies with uncouth facial hair on the streets, but I’ll give them a little donation anyway if anything, it’s such a real threat I’m practicly paying for support that will one day probably save my life”
I think a day by day time lapse photography style blog and photo stream would be an ace idea, especially if done with 10 guys at a company or something:
Day 1: Meet Dave, the head financier at Rankin Walter, for charity he’s planning for the Magnum P.I look
Day 8: Remember Dave? The ambitious Tom Selleck wannabe? The only girls he’ll be pulling his current Dirty Sanchez are ones who don’t mind the smell.
Day 14: Dave’s magnum has taken a turn for the worst, he’s now got a porno-style sslug that makes even the likes of Eric Edwards (II) shiver in his boots
** A big shout out to the H-Man, for his transition from baby face to goatie royal, and raising a big chunk of cash.
