Editor’s Note: The fur under our lips is growing itchier as we’ve moved past the mid-point of Movember, the time of year when we bring attention and research funds to health issues that target guys. Let’s keep the Mo-mentum going with three dads who each have great reasons for taking part this year. — KMcK.
Ron Mattocks – Clark Kent’s Lunchbox
Now that I’m living in the upper Midwest, where winters are harsh and unforgiving, I’ve found that facial hair is a must in protecting yourself from the elements. It’s also helpful if you accidentally wander into a biker bar when asking for directions.
That aside, Movember for me is about community and reflection. It’s impressive to see the number of #MovemberDads who have come together for a single cause. Having two uncles who successfully battled prostate cancer is a reminder to me that the risk is very real.
There’s one other reason I grow a mo: Mental Health. Even though prostate and testicular cancer are the main focus of Movember, the organization also supports mental health awareness for men. Being Bipolar II is something that directly affects me on a daily basis, and I know how easy it is for mental illnesses to go undetected and untreated. More men need to understand this and feel safe to talk about so they can live happier lives and be there for their families.
Mike Reynolds – Puzzling Posts
It’s that time of year where men and women strategically manipulate their faces to give off the appearance of having hair on their upper lip. This is more commonly known as growing a moustache.
This will be my fourth kick at the Movember can and it’s amazing how much it has grown. My first year, the Movember campaign raised $76M globally. Last year, that number was $146.6M globally and who knows how high that number can go.
Equally important, if not more so, is the awareness the campaign brings to men’s health and how it aims to make regular health checks a part of your life. As a dad to very young girls, raising money is fun but being vigilant about my health is essential. This year was the first year I’ve ever discovered an irregularity during a body check and the wait to get into the doctor and to get back test results was stressful to say the least.
Nothing was found to be out of the ordinary but I was proud to have acted on what we found and doing so I think was in part because of the work I’ve put into the Movember fundraising.
Adam Gertsacov — Dadapalooza, NYC Dads Group
(Note from Adam: As you read this, please listen to the Joe Jackson version of Louis Jordan’s late 40’s hit “Five Guys Named Moe.”)
This is my third year participating in Movember. I do it to help people and to raise awareness about men’s health issues. I do it to help support and be part of the community of dads and bloggers and friends that are all doing it together. And I do it because it happens to be something that I am pretty good at!
As a young character actor, I think I went through a run of 10 or 12 plays where I had different configurations of facial hair. I used to joke around with some of the other actors that my resume should list “facial hair” as a special skill. My friends joked that my facial hair should have its own agent (and would probably get more gigs). Facial hair grows quickly on me, and looks pretty OK. I’m not saying I’m an Olympic moustachian but it comes naturally to me. Maybe I’d get a bronze.
I’m not a very good runner, and I don’t want to touch a truck for 75 hours, and going door to door asking for signatures is not really my thing. But when I realized I could raise money to kick cancer’s ass, raise awareness about men’s health issues, and do all that by doing something that comes pretty naturally — well, woo friggin’ hoo!
Now I just can’t wait for somebody to invent Pie-ly, when I eat a pie a day to raise awareness for … well, hmmm … I haven’t thought this through yet. But there’s got to be something!
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