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Men all around the world face a quiet, desperate health crisis. Today, men die an average of six years earlier than women and face high rates of male-specific cancers and suicide.
Ten million men currently live with prostate cancer — and research indicates that if left unaddressed, the diagnosis rate will double over the next 15 years. Statistics on male suicide are even more alarming; globally, the world loses one man to suicide every minute. Many of these health concerns can be alleviated with early intervention and care; however, cultural stigma and fear often prevent men from seeking help when they need it most.
The situation is untenable — and at Gerent, we plan to do something about it. To that end, we’ve partnered with the Movember Foundation, a 501(3)(c) nonprofit dedicated to helping men survive and thrive.
How Movember turned growing a mustache into an act of advocacy
While the Movember Foundation works year-round to promote men’s health and wellness, its major fundraising push takes place in November, when supporters grow out their mustaches for charity.
The first Movember campaign launched in 2003, when two of the foundation’s soon-to-be founders wondered, over drinks, whether they could bring the mustache back into fashion. Inspired by the recent charitable efforts of a friend’s mother, the pair decided to add a fundraising element to the challenge by raising money for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA).
The challenge caught on quickly. Between Movember’s first and second years, its participant base exploded from 30 men to 450. The rest, as they say, is history. Since its official nonprofit launch in 2006, the Movember Foundation has raised over a billion dollars and ranked within the top 50 list for nongovernmental organizations globally. Movember has leveraged its fundraising momentum to support 1,250+ programs across 23 countries and fund the development of 54 inventions, 70 therapies, and 107 diagnostic tests for prostate cancer.
Gerent joins Movember’s fight for men’s health
The Gerent Family wholeheartedly supports Movember’s efforts to help men live happier, healthier lives. In October, our team celebrated the start of football season by launching an NFL Pick ‘Em Pool for charity. At the end of this team-building event, half the pot — over $1,000 in total! — went directly to support Movember’s initiatives.
In November, our team also welcomed Richard P. Loesing, Movember’s Head of Corporate Development, to provide an insider’s perspective on the organization, its work, and what supporters can do to advocate for the men in their lives.
But that’s not all! For the remainder of Movember, Gerent employees will have the opportunity to join the Gerent for Gents campaign on the foundation’s site. Participants are encouraged to set a goal equivalent to walking or running 60 miles — one mile for every man the world loses to suicide each hour. However, Gerent recognizes that such a commitment isn’t feasible for everyone; employees can opt to convert one hour of activity into three “miles” by doing housework, playing with their children, or working in their yard.
Loesing also encourages advocates to advance Movember’s efforts by raising awareness on social media or in real life.
“Sharing your story is so important, whether it’s your personal experience or something that happened to a family member or friend,” Loesing shared during his presentation. “Those conversations can compel men to reflect on the people who rely on them — to make them think, ‘people depend on me, I need to take better care of myself.”
“It’s so important for all of us,” he concluded.
To join Gerent in supporting Movember’s efforts, please visit Movember.com.
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