Movember Follicle Fever Begins

1 November 2006

Movember Follicle Fever Begins

Facial hair is set to make a return to its former glory this month as kiwi guys sprout their mo’s for Movember to help raise awareness and money for the fight against prostate cancer.

To date over 5000 men across New Zealand have registered to take part in Movember. Mo growers start on November 1st with a clean shave, and spend the month generating funds through sponsorship. At the end of the month proceeds will be donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

Every year in New Zealand, 600 men die of prostate cancer – the same number as women who die of breast cancer over the same period.

Co-founder and Global Director of Movember, Adam Garone says the aim of Movember is to make male health fun by putting the mo’ back on the face of New Zealand men and, in the process, raise some serious funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

“Men can register at any time throughout the month of Movember to be a ‘Mo Bro’ at www.movember.com. The more time they have to grow their mo’ though the more impressive it will be! It’s not just for guys either – ‘Mo Sistas’ also form an important part of Movember by helping to recruit and support Mo Bros.”

In addition to the New Zealand launch in 2006, Movember will be officially run in Australia, London and Singapore. Some well known ‘Mo’ ambassadors are supporting the cause including Ian Botham, David Boon and New Zealand’s own sporting legends Sir Richard Hadlee and Greg Murphy.

Last year close to 9,500 Australians took part in Movember and raised more then A$1.2 million for male health. Barry Young, President of the New Zealand Prostate Cancer Foundation and a survivor of the disease, hopes kiwis will take up the trans-tasman challenge and equal or better this amount.

“We are thrilled to have the support of Movember in New Zealand and see the potential of Movember to effect some real positive change in men’s health.”

Huge numbers of Mo Bros’ are expected to sign-on this week and with New Zealand Fire Fighters and several major corporates such as Vodafone, Telecom, Goldman Sachs and Price Waterhouse Coopers on board, mo’s will be spotted everywhere.

Mr Young says he would like to see other high-profile men like the All Blacks enter into the spirit of the month and is calling for a trans-tasman ‘battle of the taches’.

“I hear a few of the Wallabies squad led by Mat Rogers will be supporting Movember and I am issuing the challenge for the All Blacks to come on board and support this worthy cause as well.”

Movember culminates at the end of the month with celebratory gala parties in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Mo bros will battle it out on the catwalk for their chance to take home the prestigious Man of Movember title, along with other iconic favourites such as Best Porn Star Mo, Best Miami Vice Mo, Best Sportin’ Mo and Sexiest Mo as voted by the ladies.

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THE MO’ GROWING RULES

- Once registered each Mo Bro must start 1 November with a clean shaven noggin

- Then, for the entire month of Movember each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache according to these rules:

o There is to be no joining of the mo to side burns – That’s a beard
o There is to be no joining of the handlebars – That’s a goatie
o A small complimentary growth under the bottom lip is allowed (aka a tickler)

- Failure to conform to any of those rules may, at the absolute discretion of the Movember Committee result in instant blacklisting from further participation in Movember and entry to the Gala Parte

- The Movember Committee accepts no responsibility for lost jobs, lost girlfriends, rashes to you or your partner or any other such mishaps caused by a Movember mo

ENDS

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