Last year, Canadians joined the Movember movement by raising funds and awareness to change the face of men’s health in Canada.
In 2023, 75,000 Canadian men and boys died before reaching their 75th birthday. On average, Canadian men die four-and-a-half years earlier than women.
Seventy-five per cent of suicides in Canada are completed by men, one in eight Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and one in 30 will die from it.
Associate Director of Development at Movember Canada Evan Connor says it’s hard to believe Movember’s been in Canada since 2008. “Movember is the world’s largest men’s health charity. We fund research, treatment and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, men’s mental health and suicide prevention. In addition to the month being focused on raising the funds for those types of projects and initiatives, a big component of the campaign is also the awareness and sparking the conversation.”
“Through the fun and the power of the moustache, it kind of breaks down some of those barriers that may prevent men from just having these types of more meaningful discussions. It’s just a great way for everyone to get involved and raise a little bit of funds and awareness and really help the greater good.”
In Canada, Movember has invested over $110 million in prostate cancer research alone. “Which makes us the second largest funder of prostate cancer in the country behind our own federal government,” notes Connor.
Last year’s campaign had over 47,000 supporters that raised just under $20 million.
“Those are just a couple of the high-level kind of statistics that further showcase some of the impact and the support we’ve seen from folks, not just in Alberta, but across Canada over the years,” Connor adds.
Movember’s annual challenge, the Oil Rig Rumble, is also gearing up in Alberta and across the country.
“It’s a great way for companies in the oil, gas and energy sector to get involved. We’ve been running this specific challenge since 2022. We’ve raised nearly $4 million with this challenge,” Connor says.
Movember funds are raised in a variety of ways, Connor explains. “But in Alberta, people have shown up and supported the Oil Rig Rumble.”
And the Oil Rig Rumble helps break down barriers. “Guys in a relatively male-dominated sector are using the fun of Movember to start conversations. Companies are buying into it. We host a variety of presentations and lunch and learns, where not only are men showing up for them, they’re asking questions and sharing their lived experience. That’s quite powerful,” says Connor.
Typically, it takes one leader to open up and share, Connor adds, and it opens the door and allows other people to feel that comfort of sharing something they’re going through. “You start to realize all of us go through good times and bad times, and there’s nothing wrong with sharing that with people you care about and trust.”
Until Nov. 7, there’s a registration incentive, says Connor. “We’re encouraging people to register and raise $50 for an opportunity to win a couple of tailor-made golf packages. We also have some incentives for our fundraisers at various tiers at $1,000, $2,500 or $5,000. That’s new and exciting for this year.”
Having the right leaders in place at workplaces and creating spaces where people can have more candid conversations about how they feel is also very powerful.
“It has a profound impact, not just on the individual man. It’s helping these workplaces, which helps men when they’re at home and in their community – just to be a little bit more open and share when they’re going through some challenging times,” notes Connor.
According to Connor, Movember is not just a men’s health organization. “The campaign is for everyone. All of us have men in our life we want a little bit more time with, whether you think it’s a brother, your dad, uncle, your buddies or a colleague. Men’s health does impact all of us. When looking at even getting involved with the campaign, you don’t just have to grow a moustache. People can get involved by moving for Movember They can move 60 kilometres for the 60 men we lose to suicide every hour around the world.”
People can host an event like an office potluck or a movie night at home.
“Anything that brings people together to raise a little bit of awareness and raise a little bit of funds for the cause,” Connor adds.
You can also visit online at Movember.com to learn a little bit more about each of the cause areas.
“Men just don’t understand their risk when it comes to some of these things, so learning and sharing some of that information with the men in your life can go a long way to making sure they’re getting into their doctor sooner, having these conversations and really just getting more and more comfortable discussing these types of things and acting when something maybe doesn’t seem quite right,” Connor explains.
WITH FILES FROM STAN ASHBEE, Vista Radio Staff
