You’ve probably noticed a few more guys with a little more fur on their faces this month. It isn’t because all these guys are lazy. It isn’t because there is a razor shortage. It may be laziness or lost razors for some, but for most of these newly fuzzed gentlemen they are growing for a greater cause.

Movember, (aka November) is the one hairy month of the year that men are called to put away their razors to grow a mo to show their male solidarity. Some brave souls heed the call.

It is Shakespeare who was misquoted as saying,”To Mo or not to Mo, that is the question.” I struggled with this and decided to answer with, ‘Yes, it is time to mo.’

I am even part of a team of mo growers called ‘The Holy Staches’. (Thanks to my friend Tom Crerar for that distinguished name.)

Why? Well, that is the question.

Here are a few of my key reasons:

1) Because I can …

Yes, I said it. I may not be able to cure cancer but I can grow a mo. I may not be able to solve all the world’s problems but I can grow a little hair above my lip. I admit that the thought that a little less shaving can help bring awareness to a large problem is appealing. It is a hairy world so maybe it is fitting that a little hair can help in some small way. I grow a mo because I can.

2) Because I care ….

Men’s health issues are important. It is amazing how many men die because they were too embarrassed, too busy or too ‘fill-in-blank’ to have an annual check up. Let me get right to the point … for the sake of our family and loved ones; let’s swallow our pride, pull up our courage and get an annual physical or ask for help. It may save our lives and the well-being of our families. I grow a mo because I care.

3) Because I lost …

I have lost a lot of things in my life but one of the greatest losses I have experienced was the loss of my father to cancer. He passed away over 15 years ago. It was a painful experience. He was too young and it was too early. Maybe you can identify. I decided to grow a moustache this Movember in honour of his memory. I’d like to help prevent another loss in some small way. I grow a mo because I lost.

This is just my brief list of reasons for growing a mo this year. Maybe some of the mo endowed men can identify with some of these reasons.

I’d love to read your comments on this … please drop a line about your Movember experience.

Two more quick notes:

1) Please check out the Movember web site for details;

2) Consider donating to our team, ‘The Holy Staches’. It will could make a great difference in the lives men.