Movember. It’s not even a proper word but an amalgamation of ‘Mo’ for moustache and ‘November’. But whether it’s the Queen’s English or not, the Movember movement will be responsible for a lot of unshaven faces for the remainder of the month.

The more observant of you will have noticed that for the past 25 days, blooming great moustache’s have adorned a select few gentleman within the Percepta offices. The reason for these lip-weasels isn’t temporary insanity – we’re simply showing our support for the month-long men’s health charity event – Movember. Team Perceptash is back led, this year, by a Mo-Bro, of former handlebar fame, Scott Collins.

This year, the Perceptash team will go pore to pore where the bragging rights will go to those who proudly bristle most.

Every November men all across the country grow their ‘taches from scratch, and join in with events to raise funds for The Prostate Cancer Charity. It’s a sobering thought that prostate cancer accounts for a full quarter of all incidences of cancer in men in the UK, and raising awareness of this condition is something that we’re glad to be a part of.

In the words of its website, “Movember challenges men to change their appearance and the face of men’s health by growing a moustache. The rules are simple, start Movember 1st clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache becomes the ribbon for men’s health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men. Much like the commitment to run or walk for charity, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.”

Last year Perceptash was formed and it’s few members grew moustache’s to be proud of. To be honest, the thought of doing so again probably didn’t fill them with joy. Many found themselves constantly feeling their upper lip because it itched so much & admittedly, some fell by the wayside.  Family members ridiculed and the response in general was universally negative.

But the majority fought on through & on the plus side, Team Perceptash did manage to pull in alot of money - £834 to be exact! Internationally, last year’s Movember was a startling success in this regard: over one million donors raised $42 million dollars. So the humiliation and discomfort were worth it. I don’t want to fall prey to easy stereotyping but men do not have a good track record of looking after their health. So anything that gets men to take a more thoughtful and responsible attitude to their physical welfare has merit.

Women can take part too. Growing a ‘Mo’ would, of course, be beyond the call of duty. But women (or ‘Mo-Sistas’ as they may prefer to be called) can encourage us men to join in and they can help fundraise.

Hair today, gone tomorrow, some will say, and that thought provides a quantum of solace. The marks Movember leaves behind are more enduring in the gains for men’s health than on the faces of the participants.

As once said by Salvador Dali – “Since I don’t smoke, I decided to grow a moustache – it is better for the health.
However, I always carried a jewel-studded cigarette case in which, instead of tobacco, were several carefully placed moustaches, I offered them politely to my friends: “Moustache? Moustache? Moustache?   Nobody dared to touch them” ……………. which sound’s very similar to the reaction I currently receive from my wife!! Roll on November 30th!

Please support the cause and donate anything that you can – every little helps: http://uk.movember.com/