Mostashed Hairiers: Movember Q & A's

Here are some answers to what should be FAQs that people should be asking...

How do I join the Mostashed Hairiers?

Follow these simple steps:
1. Send me your mugshot ASAP - with or without a moustache (hereinafter called a "mo".)
2. Register today with my Movember team, The Mostashed Hairiers.
3. Read the email that the Movember organisers send you. You may want to make your own blog.
4. Look with delight at the entry I make about you on my blog.
5. If you have a significant other in your life, tell him or her about the blog. Give your permission and encouragement to have them tell their friends.
6. Shave clean on the evening of October 31 and send me a picture to prove it. All your friends and colleagues will see you and laugh. Think what joy you will be bringing, especially when I put your picture on the blog. You can also have your own Movember blog to bring added joy to the world.
7. For the entire month of November (sorry, Movember) you shave your beard, but not your mo, taking a picture every four or five days to post on the team blog so that the world can admire/guffaw/whatever and, most importantly, your supporters/detractors will make sponsorship donations directly to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. No need for you to handle any cash or donations if you do not want to.
8. Your wife/girlfriend/partner/whoever has a very important role to play in helping find sponsors for you from among their own friends and acquaintances. They do this, not by asking for money (unless they particularly want to,) but just by telling their friends by email and FaceBook what you are doing and sending the link to the team or your personal blog. Wives and girlfriends can also register as a Mo Sista.

Canadian Men! Your country needs your mo!

How do I sponsor the Mostashed Hairiers?

Click here: Sponsor the Mostashed Hairiers.

You can also click on the sponsorship button in the panel on the left.

How much have the Mostashed Hairiers been sponsored?

The official Movember blog of the Mostashed Hairier's gallant and intrepid captain, Mo Bro Terry, will give you the (almost) latest status on donations to the team. Actually they seem to be a few hours behind, so if you make a donation give it a while for them to process it before expecting to see it on the blog.

Where are the Mostashed Hairiers in the Canadian rankings?

Hopefully we are in the Top 100. If not, please make a donation to get us there.

Why would I join the Mostashed Hairiers?

...because you are too lazy to run a marathon. Hats off to all the people who run for breast cancer!

Other reasons would include:

...because you want to raise money for prostate cancer research

...because you always wanted to grow a mo but felt sheepish; this gives you a reason.

Why do men not join the Mostashed Hairiers?

Just a few men have told me they will not be joining. In order of frequency, reasons have been:

1. Vanity.

"I don't look good with a mustache"

"I don't have much of a moustache to grow"

"I don't do mo's. It makes me look rediculous"

"I can't bring myself to shave the mustache I already have. I would look rediculous"

2. Wife

"My wife would divorce me"

"My wife couldn't handle a mustache on me"

3. Kids

"My kids have never seen me without a mustache. Do I really have to shave it off?"

"My kids say it makes me look like a paedophile" (I must admit there's no arguing with this one )

Have I missed out any?

Movember Time Again

Next month, the month of November, will be Movember and the anniversary of the first time I shaved my beard and moustache since December 1967.  Never mind my kids, not even my wife, Ingrid, had ever seen me without a beard except in photographs. Well, all that has changed and I spent the summer clean shaven - for the most part.

Following is the text of a letter that I have sent to family and a number of friends and colleagues in the hope that some of them will join with me again this Movember to raise funds for prostate cancer research in Canada.  I have also recommended to colleagues in the U.S. and Australia to form teams there.

Last November two of my sons, some male friends and colleagues, and I - with great support from wives, daughters, girlfriends and other enthusiastic and (usually) sympathetic ladies - raised $5,865 (yes, five thousand eight hundred and sixty-five dollars Canadian) in donations for the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada . We did this as a moustache-growing team called the MoCann Terriers participating in an international/global fund-raising initiative known as "Movember".

As a man living with prostate cancer (very small, very slow growing, not (yet) life-threatening, under medical supervision) I must own up to having a certain vested interest in funds going towards this cause.

This November I've decided to get hairy and again grow a moustache for Movember - a movement that is changing the face of men's health nationally and globally. With thousands of other men and women I'm committed to tackling men's health issues and being proactive in the fight against prostate cancer. However, I know that on my own I cannot be nearly as effective as doing this together with a great team such as last year's Mocann Terriers and all the supporters who rallied round.

Here is the link promoting Movember 2008.

You can also follow this link to read up about what Movember is.

I invite each one of you to join my team this year, the "Mostashed Hairiers."

What happens if you join the Mostashed Hairiers ? 

You shave clean on the evening of October 31 and take a picture to prove it. You could get supporters to sponsor you just for doing that if you already have a moustache. For the entire month of November you shave your beard, but not your moustache, taking a picture every four or five days to post on the team blog so that the world can admire/guffaw/whatever and, most importantly, your supporters will make sponsorship donations to the Prostate Cancer Research Foundation of Canada. Your wife/girlfriend/partner/whoever has a very important role to play in helping find sponsors for you from among their own friends and acquaintances.

To join my team, the "Mostashed Hairiers", click [HERE] 

or paste this into your browser: 

http://ca.movember.com/register/register-team.php?join=1&action=invited&search_captain_id=1349971&search_captain_email=terrycmccann@gmail.com

Once registered you'll be sent all the information you need to get donations and get growing as part of my Movember team, the Mostashed Hairiers.

You will need these details to complete your online registration:

Captain's Registration Number: 1349971

Captain's Email Address: terrycmccann@gmail.com

I fully understand and appreciate that not everyone will feel free to join as a mo-growing Mo Bro. There are three other important ways you can help:

1. Sponsor the team, or particular team members, with a financial contribution.

2. Spread the word. Make colleagues, family members or friends aware of Movember and the Mostashed Hairiers via the web links. You don't need to ask them to donate. Hopefully they will enthuse over what they see in their browsers and be motivated to donate to this very worthy cause.

3. Most importantly, educate yourself about prostate cancer - the number one cancer threat to Canadian men. If you are over 40 you are at risk; speak to your doctor about having a baseline PSA if you have not already had one. Prostate cancer is 95% curable if detected and treated early.

Your Movember Mo Bro - Terry