LOS ANGELES, CA, Sep 19, 2011 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Movember kicks off its 5th annual world-wide campaign in the US, challenging men across the country to show their support by growing a Mo (slang for moustache) this November. To help support Prostate Cancer Awareness Month, today men and women across the country can raise funds and awareness for men's health by registering at www.Movember.com .
Movember, the month formerly known as November, aims to change the face of men's health by creating a global focus on cancers affecting men. Participation is not only fun, but simple. Once registered, men are challenged to start the month clean-shaven and grow a Mo. The mustache becomes the hairy ribbon for men's health and the guys growing them become a walking billboard for 30 days. The growth of a new Mo inspires conversations about not often talked about topics -- men's health and cancer affecting them. Women who register are key to the campaign's success. They act as Mo ambassadors, spreading the word and showing their support for men's health and the mustache.
Movember will also debut a brand new creative concept for the 2011 campaign: The Country Gentleman. Every year Movember changes its creative to keep the campaign exciting and fresh for returning participants and new mustache enthusiasts. Movember's creative is the focal point for the entire campaign, and never used twice. Last year was all about The Modern Gentleman, and this year Movember is taking him out to the countryside.
"Last year, Movember became a truly global movement," said Adam Garone, CEO and Co-Founder of Movember. "Through the power of the moustache, almost half a million Movember participants raised $174 M, making us the largest non-government funder of prostate cancer research in the world. This success was made possible by the individual efforts of each supporter, and we hope they'll join us this year, as there is still much work to do. With more than 240,000 new cases of prostate cancer expected this year, the need for new collaborative research is more urgent than ever."
Americans embraced the mustache in 2010, with nearly 65,000 participants raising $7.5 million for Movember's US men's health partners, the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation. With over 1.1 million Movember participants to date, real mustaches are resulting in real outcomes for the cancer community. Movember funds are hard at work -- both locally and globally. Working with our men's health partners, Movember helps fund a range of innovative, world-class programs in line with Movember's strategic goals of awareness and education, research, and survivorship.
"We are extremely grateful for our partnership with Movember and are looking forward to the 2011 campaign this coming November," said Jonathan W. Simons, MD, president and CEO of the PCF. "Movember raises more than just crucial funding for research. It brings awareness of this disease to the forefront and encourages men of all ages and their families and friends to talk about prostate cancer."
Movember has helped fund some groundbreaking programs to date. For more information, please visit www.movember.com .
-- Whole Genome Sequencing -- Scientists, for the first time, have constructed a complete genetic map of prostate cancer. These findings aim to help patients work with their doctors to map the individual genetic alterations of their prostate cancer to determine the specific treatment needed for them. The PCF, the Broad Institute of Harvard, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston collaborated on this break-through research project.
-- Discovery of 25+ Subtypes of Prostate Cancer -- Arul Chinnaiyan, MD, PhD, and his colleagues at the University of Michigan have, through the PCF, completed a research program identifying 25+ different subtypes of prostate cancer. This discovery hopes to help men facing prostate cancer answer the agonizing question: does their cancer need immediate treatment or can it be left alone
-- LIVESTRONG/Movember Program-- The LIVESTRONG/Movember Program will provide free, confidential one-on-one support to anyone, anywhere affected by cancer. This comprehensive, national program will help people diagnosed with cancer, their families, friends, loved ones, and the health care professionals who work with them. It will provide services around: emotional support, fertility risks and preservation options, insurance, employment and financial concerns, and treatment concerns.
-- Global Action Plan (GAP) -- Identifying an opportunity to accelerate research outcomes through collaboration, the Movember Foundation has established the Global Action Plan. GAP has two program elements -- an annual global collaborative research project as well as Promoveo, a global, online community for prostate cancer researchers, clinicians and organizations to share information and findings.
reource: - MarketWatch
"LIVESTRONG serves people and families fighting cancer and we're tremendously grateful for Movember's support of our mission," said Doug Ulman, CEO and President, LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and 3-time cancer survivor. "Movember has created an innovative approach to raising funds and awareness with a special focus on younger generations. Their work is groundbreaking and we're proud to be a part of it."
Movember 2011 US major partners include TOMS and The Art of Shaving.
About Movember Movember aims to forever change the face of men's health through the power of the moustache, by raising awareness and funds that will reduce the number of preventable male deaths by cancer. Since inception as a charity event in 2004, over 1.1 million participants have raised over $174 M for the cause, with official Movember campaigns taking place in ten countries. For more information please visit www.movember.com . Movember is a registered 501(c)(3) charity.
About the Prostate Cancer Foundation The Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) is the world's leading philanthropic organization funding and accelerating research. Founded in 1993, PCF has raised more than $450 million and provided funding to more than 1,500 researchers at nearly 200 institutions in 12 countries. PCF advocates for greater awareness of prostate cancer and more efficient investment of governmental research funds supporting transformational cancer research. Our efforts have helped produce a 20-fold increase in government funding for prostate cancer. More information about PCF can be found at pcf.org.
About LIVESTRONG/Lance Armstrong Foundation LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation, serves people affected by cancer and empowers them to take action against the world's leading cause of death. Created as the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the organization is now known publicly by its powerful brand -- LIVESTRONG -- and is a leader in the global movement on behalf of 28 million people around the world living with cancer today. Originating with the iconic yellow wristband, LIVESTRONG has become a symbol of hope and inspiration to people affected by cancer around the world. Since its inception, the organization has raised more than $400 million for the fight against cancer. For more information, visit LIVESTRONG.org.
reource: - MarketWatch
