Movember begins in B.C. with new focus on men's overall health
With October behind us, things are about to get a lot more hairy as the men's health campaign — Movember — is back for November 2015.
Since the practise of growing facial hair to support men's health started in 2003 in Canada, $175 million has been raised, mostly for prostrate and testicular cancer.
Now this year's edition is adding something more — a 30-day commitment to increase physical activity.
"Movember really is the leading global men's health initiative and mental health and physical inactivity are huge components of men's health," said Matt Skinner who is the co-chair of the Vancouver Movember Committee.
Other participants like Jeff Bay say the mental health aspect is one of the reasons he's growing hair on his face for the next 30 days.
"I think it's an important thing that often goes overlooked when we talk about men's health generally," he said
Bay, Skinner and others were at the 18th Amendment Barber Shop in Vancouver Sunday to get their faces shaved to start the campaign.
12-year-old Matthew Hamelin got lathered up, despite not having much of anything on his face to run the razor over.
"I'm here to support men for the Movember because I want to be one, one day," he said.
