The Official SRF Movember Thread
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This thread is here to help raise money and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men. Many forummers are passionate about this cause and may be sensitive to any negative opinions. Please bear this in mind before posting.
What is Movember?
Spoiler!
ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.
The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research
The funds raised in the UK support the number one and two male specific cancers - prostate and testicular cancer. The funds raised are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. Together, these channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.
For more information on the programmes we are funding please visit the following:
The Prostate Cancer Charity
The Institute of Cancer Research
Awareness & Education
Global Action Plan
Movember - a global movement
Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate, with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause right across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.
No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, getting them to act on that knowledge thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.
In 2010, over 112,000 UK Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising £11.7 million.
Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world but there is still much to be done to catch up with the women’s health movement. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health, by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health each year.
During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces in the UK and around the world. The aim of which is to raise vital funds and awareness for men’s health, specifically prostate cancer and other cancers that affect men.
On Movember 1st, guys register at Movember.com with a clean-shaven face and then for the rest of the month, these selfless and generous men, known as Mo Bros, groom, trim and wax their way into the annals of fine moustachery. Supported by the women in their lives, Mo Sistas, Movember Mo Bros raise funds by seeking out sponsorship for their Mo-growing efforts.
Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards for the 30 days of November and through their actions and words raise awareness by prompting private and public conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.
At the end of the month, Mo Bros and Mo Sistas celebrate their gallantry and valor by either throwing their own Movember party or attending one of the infamous Gala Partés held around the world by Movember, for Movember.
The Movember Effect: Awareness & Education, Survivorship, Research
The funds raised in the UK support the number one and two male specific cancers - prostate and testicular cancer. The funds raised are directed to programmes run directly by Movember and our men’s health partners, The Prostate Cancer Charity and the Institute of Cancer Research. Together, these channels work together to ensure that Movember funds are supporting a broad range of innovative, world-class programmes in line with our strategic goals in the areas of awareness and education, survivorship and research.
For more information on the programmes we are funding please visit the following:
The Prostate Cancer Charity
The Institute of Cancer Research
Awareness & Education
Global Action Plan
Movember - a global movement
Since its humble beginnings in Melbourne Australia, Movember has grown to become a truly global movement inspiring more than 1.1 Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas to participate, with formal campaigns in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK, Finland, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa and Ireland. In addition, Movember is aware of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas supporting the campaign and men’s health cause right across the globe, from Russia to Dubai, Hong Kong to Antarctica, Rio de Janeiro to Mumbai, and everywhere in between.
No matter the country or city, Movember will continue to work to change established habits and attitudes men have about their health, to educate men about the health risks they face, getting them to act on that knowledge thereby increasing the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment.
In 2010, over 112,000 UK Mo Bros and Mo Sistas got on board, raising £11.7 million.
Big steps have been taken towards changing attitudes and habits relating to men’s health around the world but there is still much to be done to catch up with the women’s health movement. Via the moustache, Movember aims to fulfill its vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health, by continuing to spark conversation and spread awareness of men’s health each year.
Visions, Values and Goals:
Spoiler!
[align=center]
[/align]VISION, VALUES AND GOALS
Fun
We create fun.
Accountable
We are accountable and transparent. We strive to exceed best practice cost-to-fundraising ratios.
Caring
We are passionate, dedicated, caring people that are here to serve the Movember Community.
Team Movember
Although we are spread across the world we are one team with the same deeper sense of purpose.
Humble
We have a humble attitude and approach to everything we do.
Innovative
Born from an entrepreneurial spirit, we apply innovation across the organisation to improve efficiency and the Mo Bro and Mo Sista experience.
Remarkable Experiences
At every touch point – phone, email, online, in person, at our events we create a remarkable experience.
Outcomes Oriented
We will drive significant outcomes for men’s health from the funds we raise.
Campaign strategic goal
We will get men to grow moustaches by creating an innovative, fun and engaging annual Movember campaign that raises funds and awareness globally.
Strategic goals from the funds raised:
Survivorship
We will fund survivorship initiatives that provide information and support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer that helps them make informed decisions and improves their quality of life.
Awareness and education
Through our annual campaign and funded programs we will significantly increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage men to act on that knowledge.
Prostate and testicular cancer research
We will fund catalytic research and clinical trials infrastructure that leads to significantly improved diagnostic and prognostic tests and treatments to reduce the burden of prostate and testicular cancer.
Influencing change in men's health
We will fund research that helps to inform health policy and knowledge translation that accelerates improved health outcomes for men.
[/align]VISION, VALUES AND GOALSFun
We create fun.
Accountable
We are accountable and transparent. We strive to exceed best practice cost-to-fundraising ratios.
Caring
We are passionate, dedicated, caring people that are here to serve the Movember Community.
Team Movember
Although we are spread across the world we are one team with the same deeper sense of purpose.
Humble
We have a humble attitude and approach to everything we do.
Innovative
Born from an entrepreneurial spirit, we apply innovation across the organisation to improve efficiency and the Mo Bro and Mo Sista experience.
Remarkable Experiences
At every touch point – phone, email, online, in person, at our events we create a remarkable experience.
Outcomes Oriented
We will drive significant outcomes for men’s health from the funds we raise.
Campaign strategic goal
We will get men to grow moustaches by creating an innovative, fun and engaging annual Movember campaign that raises funds and awareness globally.
Strategic goals from the funds raised:
Survivorship
We will fund survivorship initiatives that provide information and support for men and their families affected by prostate cancer that helps them make informed decisions and improves their quality of life.
Awareness and education
Through our annual campaign and funded programs we will significantly increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage men to act on that knowledge.
Prostate and testicular cancer research
We will fund catalytic research and clinical trials infrastructure that leads to significantly improved diagnostic and prognostic tests and treatments to reduce the burden of prostate and testicular cancer.
Influencing change in men's health
We will fund research that helps to inform health policy and knowledge translation that accelerates improved health outcomes for men.
Where does the money go?
Spoiler!
WHERE THE MONEY GOES
2010 Global Campaign
Movember raised £48.5 million globally during the 2010 campaign, an increase of £20.9 million over the prior year. The funds were raised by 447,808 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas located in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. In each country Movember partners with high quality men’s health charities that share Movember’s vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.
Movember’s cost focus and economies of scale, have resulted in a global fundraising and administration cost to funds raised ratio of 8% which is low by international standards - best practice is in the range of 15% - 25%.
Movember’s global financials are audited each year by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
2010 United Kingdom Campaign
The UK campaign raised £10.3 million in 2010. The funds raised went directly to The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC) who funded the campaign costs and managed the monetary investment in to prostate cancer programs. The chart below shows how these funds are applied:
89% Allocated to Programs
Of the funds raised, 85% has been committed to prostate cancer research and survivor support programs run by the TPCC, and 4% funded Movember’s awareness and education program. TPCC and Movember together ensure that funded programs are world-class and align with our strategic goals.
11% Administration and Fundraising Cost Ratio
A number of fundraising and administrative tasks are necessary to run an organization and campaign the size of Movember. We are proud of our administration and fundraising ratio, which in the UK was 11% of funds raised. This is below international standards – best practice is in the range of 15% - 25%.
Costs that are grouped under admin and fundraising include the following:
Marketing materials
Credit card processing fees
Systems development and technology to process donations securely
Bank fees
Audit, accounting and regulatory compliance costs
Legal costs
Insurance
Salaries for the admin support staff
Telecommunications and computer equipment
Travel
Office rent and general office maintenance costs
2010 Global Campaign
Movember raised £48.5 million globally during the 2010 campaign, an increase of £20.9 million over the prior year. The funds were raised by 447,808 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas located in Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, the UK and Ireland. In each country Movember partners with high quality men’s health charities that share Movember’s vision of having an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health.
Movember’s cost focus and economies of scale, have resulted in a global fundraising and administration cost to funds raised ratio of 8% which is low by international standards - best practice is in the range of 15% - 25%.
Movember’s global financials are audited each year by PriceWaterhouseCoopers.
2010 United Kingdom Campaign
The UK campaign raised £10.3 million in 2010. The funds raised went directly to The Prostate Cancer Charity (TPCC) who funded the campaign costs and managed the monetary investment in to prostate cancer programs. The chart below shows how these funds are applied:
89% Allocated to Programs
Of the funds raised, 85% has been committed to prostate cancer research and survivor support programs run by the TPCC, and 4% funded Movember’s awareness and education program. TPCC and Movember together ensure that funded programs are world-class and align with our strategic goals.
11% Administration and Fundraising Cost Ratio
A number of fundraising and administrative tasks are necessary to run an organization and campaign the size of Movember. We are proud of our administration and fundraising ratio, which in the UK was 11% of funds raised. This is below international standards – best practice is in the range of 15% - 25%.
Costs that are grouped under admin and fundraising include the following:
Marketing materials
Credit card processing fees
Systems development and technology to process donations securely
Bank fees
Audit, accounting and regulatory compliance costs
Legal costs
Insurance
Salaries for the admin support staff
Telecommunications and computer equipment
Travel
Office rent and general office maintenance costs
Who does Movember fund?
Spoiler!
THE PROSTATE CANCER CHARITY
Funds raised by the Movember community are enabling The Prostate Cancer Charity to carry out a number of key programmes that are making a real difference to the lives of men and their families affected by prostate cancer. This is significant, when you consider one man in this country dies of prostate cancer EVERY HOUR, of every day, more than 10,000 every year. All cancer diagnoses are life-changing. Prostate cancer is complicated as men do not always display symptoms and can be faced with a complex range of treatment options. This means that clear information is critical.
Thanks to the efforts of over 100,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, the charity has been able to give more people more support in 2010 and reach towards its vision of fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning.
Examples of Movember Funded Programmes
Programme: Specialist Cancer Nurses on a dedicated Helpline (0800 074 8383 or 01691 202194)
Movember funds help provide trained specialist nurses available to talk to anyone newly diagnosed, affected or living with prostate cancer. This heavily utilised National Helpline is a vital service and is one of the significant support aspects of The Prostate Cancer Charity and Movember funds. These nurses are able to give one-to-one support for men dealing with complex questions and difficult issues.
Programme: Research
As a direct result of Movember funding The Prostate Cancer Charity have been able to invest in 14 NEW research projects, the highest number ever. Importantly, these research projects cover the whole prostate cancer journey: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, awareness and quality of life.
Biophysicist and Clinical Researcher, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy
Dmitry, based at Imperial College London, is one of a number of researchers working with Movember funding through The Prostate Cancer Charity, who are focused on better understanding the causes of prostate cancer and improving diagnostic tools and treatments.
The injection of support from Movember meant that Dmitry and his team could pursue various lines of research and investigate ways to prevent cancer spreading to the bones.
The first project generated a series of outcomes, which will now be explored further, including a molecular therapy which could mean men have lower doses of chemotherapy.
Programme: Prostate Cancer Master Class, our Health Professional Education Programme
We have been able to hold a national learning event, the Prostate Cancer Masterclass in partnership with Kings College. We were oversubscribed and the event proved very popular with GPs, Nurses, and specialists. We have since turned the programme into an online learning resource on our new website.
The Charity is now further developing its education programme for thousands of specialists to access across the UK and will help improve care and support once diagnosed.
Programme : Movember funds for Men’s Health Materials
We ensure that men are able to easily access our information in a range of different formats, and GPs are steadily increasing the use and endorsement of our materials. Last year, we provided over 330,000 pieces of prostate cancer information to people – purely by request. We produced seven new publications across a range of essential topics. Our publications are recognised and have been certified by The Information Standard as a producer of quality and reliable health information. Access to and provision of this information is vitally important to the newly diagnosed or recently treated and funding from Movember allows The Prostate Cancer Charity to continue to produce these high-quality resources and distribute them across the country.
Programme: Community of Champions
To further our work in the African Caribbean community we established our network of Community Champions following research showing us that the most effective way to communicate with this typically hard-to-reach group of men is through community, grass roots involvement.
Through this initiative we can arrange support using champion volunteers with personal experiences of prostate cancer and speak with men in their local environment.
Programme: Survivorship and Support ‘Couples’ project
To understand the psycho-social impact of prostate cancer, this informative project delved into the effects on the men themselves, and also the ‘other’ person in their lives. From wives to priests to gay partnerships, to fathers daughters and sons, this is a highly useful piece of work that has since been turned into a training and support resource via DVD and online.
Funds raised by the Movember community are enabling The Prostate Cancer Charity to carry out a number of key programmes that are making a real difference to the lives of men and their families affected by prostate cancer. This is significant, when you consider one man in this country dies of prostate cancer EVERY HOUR, of every day, more than 10,000 every year. All cancer diagnoses are life-changing. Prostate cancer is complicated as men do not always display symptoms and can be faced with a complex range of treatment options. This means that clear information is critical.
Thanks to the efforts of over 100,000 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, the charity has been able to give more people more support in 2010 and reach towards its vision of fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning.
Examples of Movember Funded Programmes
Programme: Specialist Cancer Nurses on a dedicated Helpline (0800 074 8383 or 01691 202194)
Movember funds help provide trained specialist nurses available to talk to anyone newly diagnosed, affected or living with prostate cancer. This heavily utilised National Helpline is a vital service and is one of the significant support aspects of The Prostate Cancer Charity and Movember funds. These nurses are able to give one-to-one support for men dealing with complex questions and difficult issues.
Programme: Research
As a direct result of Movember funding The Prostate Cancer Charity have been able to invest in 14 NEW research projects, the highest number ever. Importantly, these research projects cover the whole prostate cancer journey: prevention, diagnosis, treatment, awareness and quality of life.
Biophysicist and Clinical Researcher, Dmitry Pshezhetskiy
Dmitry, based at Imperial College London, is one of a number of researchers working with Movember funding through The Prostate Cancer Charity, who are focused on better understanding the causes of prostate cancer and improving diagnostic tools and treatments.
The injection of support from Movember meant that Dmitry and his team could pursue various lines of research and investigate ways to prevent cancer spreading to the bones.
The first project generated a series of outcomes, which will now be explored further, including a molecular therapy which could mean men have lower doses of chemotherapy.
Programme: Prostate Cancer Master Class, our Health Professional Education Programme
We have been able to hold a national learning event, the Prostate Cancer Masterclass in partnership with Kings College. We were oversubscribed and the event proved very popular with GPs, Nurses, and specialists. We have since turned the programme into an online learning resource on our new website.
The Charity is now further developing its education programme for thousands of specialists to access across the UK and will help improve care and support once diagnosed.
Programme : Movember funds for Men’s Health Materials
We ensure that men are able to easily access our information in a range of different formats, and GPs are steadily increasing the use and endorsement of our materials. Last year, we provided over 330,000 pieces of prostate cancer information to people – purely by request. We produced seven new publications across a range of essential topics. Our publications are recognised and have been certified by The Information Standard as a producer of quality and reliable health information. Access to and provision of this information is vitally important to the newly diagnosed or recently treated and funding from Movember allows The Prostate Cancer Charity to continue to produce these high-quality resources and distribute them across the country.
Programme: Community of Champions
To further our work in the African Caribbean community we established our network of Community Champions following research showing us that the most effective way to communicate with this typically hard-to-reach group of men is through community, grass roots involvement.
Through this initiative we can arrange support using champion volunteers with personal experiences of prostate cancer and speak with men in their local environment.
Programme: Survivorship and Support ‘Couples’ project
To understand the psycho-social impact of prostate cancer, this informative project delved into the effects on the men themselves, and also the ‘other’ person in their lives. From wives to priests to gay partnerships, to fathers daughters and sons, this is a highly useful piece of work that has since been turned into a training and support resource via DVD and online.
Awareness and Education
Spoiler!
AWARENESS AND EDUCATION
The Awareness and Education Issue
On average men die five to six years younger than women. The suicide rate is four times higher for men than women and more than five men die prematurely each hour from potentially preventable illnesses.
Hard hitting facts; especially when you consider that there is no biological disadvantage that puts men at greater risk than women and according to recent research up to half of male cancer cases could be prevented by making healthy diet and lifestyle choices. The reasons for the current state of men’s health are numerous and complex but it appears that the biggest issue is the way in which men think about their health; preventative health being something many men just don’t compute. It is this issue that Movember’s Awareness and Education program is working hard to change.
Awareness and education alters behaviour and mind-sets, it gradually breaks down barriers, removes stigmas and brings about real change. Movember wants men to take responsibility for their health, prevent illness by leading a healthy lifestyle and understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others so they can appreciate when and how to seek help if needed.
Spreading the Word One Mo at a Time > How it Works
Movember’s tag line is ‘changing the face of men’s health’ which articulately describes the challenge – changing your appearance by growing a moustache for 30 days and the outcome – changing the understanding and attitudes men have towards their health. The moustache is Movember’s ribbon, it is the catalyst by which Movember intends to bring about real change through the awareness generated by the simple act of growing a Mo.
The appearance of a moustache on a usually clean shaven man prompts questions from those around them. Throughout the month of Movember they are constantly asked the question - why the moustache? Each Mo Bro then needs to justify his new look with an explanation about the unique challenges men face with their health, and key messages about prostate and testicular cancer. The result is a highly effective and authentic word-of-mouth campaign.
Is Movember Making a Difference?
The answer is yes, absolutely. Recent research carried out by Movember highlighted that the campaign is working successfully in terms of raising awareness whilst having a positive impact on making men think about their health. Movember participants were shown to spend more time thinking about health issues or reflecting on them than non-participants (the general population). To be specific, in the UK, the research revealed:
89% of participants spent time thinking about improving their general health
57% of participants have had a general check-up
70% discussed men’s health with their family, friends or colleagues during Movember
58% carried out personal research on men’s health issues during Movember
51% worried about their general health
77% understood that their health depends on how well they take care of themselves
The research encouragingly shows that participation in Movember does encourage men to proactively engage in the management of their health. However, findings also highlighted that 50% of men had ignored an issue rather than go to a doctor. This is proof that there is still work to be done and Movember has a responsibility to keep raising awareness, thereby motivating and engaging men around the world to change the face of men’s health.
Empowering the Mo Bro
Movember provides the platform by way of the website and tools for Mo Bros to participate, but it is the individual Mo Bros that bring the campaign to life by making it their own and communicating Movember’s men’s health messages in a way that is meaningful to them, their family and peers.
The Movember research revealed that the average British Mo Bro talks face-to-face about Movember and its men’s health messages to 61 people during the month. This means that during the 2010 campaign, it’s feasible that the 448,000 global participants personally informed over 27 million people about Movember and its key health messages. This isn’t taking into account the number of people they would have reached with messages sent via e-mail, posted on Facebook and Twitter.
The impact of this authentic communication coming from someone known and trusted is significantly more meaningful than any other sort of promotion. This is where the effectiveness of Movember’s awareness program lies. The moustache is the reason for Movember’s success and will always remain the central focus of all that Movember does.
The goal of Movember’s Awareness and Education program is to significantly increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage them to act on that knowledge. This is achieved by:
Encouraging public and private conversation about the issue of men’s health via the growth of a moustache
Educating the Movember community that the best way to cure cancer is to prevent it through a healthy diet, not smoking, being physically active, staying at a healthy weight and knowing your family medical history
Prompting Mo Bros to make Movember the month to have an annual physical which includes cancer screening because most cancers, particularly prostate, testicular and skin cancer are highly curable if caught early
Removing the stigmas around health issues like prostate and testicular cancer by giving men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly
Educating men on the health risks they face, the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others and appreciate when and how to seek help if needed
We know from the many heart-felt emails thanking Movember that the Awareness and Education program is saving and changing lives today, a truly amazing outcome on which no value can be placed.
Movember's success lies in the fact that the campaign empowers Mo Bros and Mo Sistas and allows them to express and experience their journey in a way that is meaningful to them. Movember provides them with the tools but each individual is encouraged to stamp their own personal mark on their journey – there is no right or wrong way to take part in Movember, it’s participation that’s key. It is through the following mediums that Movember helps Mo Bros and Mo Sistas spread men’s health messages.
Campaign Creative
Each year a new creative concept is built which runs through all communication channels including the website, printed materials and media. This ensures the campaign is kept fresh and engaging for both returning Mo Bros and Mo Sistas and new recruits.
Movember.com
The website is the hub of Movember, it’s where Mo Bros and Mo Sistas register and in doing so, create an active and engaged global community. The online platform enables this community, united in their commitment to the cause, to share and experience the Movember journey through:
Mo Space: post photos and messages
News: latest updates on Mo news from around the country and world
Accessing men’s health information
Finding out about official Movember events, such as the Galas and running events
Competitions
Free Awareness and Education Collateral
Movember creates a bank of information and collateral that helps organisations, teams and individuals spread the Movember message; educating themselves and others on the health risks men face during their lifetime. Packs include:
Men’s health information
Posters: Men’s health and general
Donation boxes
Mo Party Packs
Wristbands and badges
The Media
Positively engaging the media is absolutely essential to Movember in continuing its growth and spreading its word. With Movember comes a multitude of amazing stories and it’s the role of the team in each country to share these stories with the media and thereby enlisting their help for the cause. In the UK alone in 2010, there were over 1,718 media hits, educating millions on the importance of men’s health. In addition, approximately 17.3% of the global online population had the opportunity to be exposed to this year’s Movember campaign during the month of November.
Events & Activities
Movember events are important vehicles for delivering a Movember experience to the community. By design, they are always fun events that engage, educate and excite those taking part. A Movember event can come in many guises – launch event, Mo Run, end of month Office Party or one of the official Movember Gala Partés held around the world to thank Mo Bros and Mo Sistas for their Mo growing efforts.
Community Engagement > Mo Bros on the Ground
Spreading the word and engaging local communities and businesses is critical to spreading Movember’s health messages. The Movember team is regularly asked to speak at events and is happy to oblige wherever possible. In addition, Movember proactively seeks out communities, groups and businesses with which we can engage.
Educating > Health Spokesmen
Working in conjunction with the Movember men’s health partners, Movember is able to arrange for health spokespeople, in the fields of prostate and testicular cancer, to deliver talks to groups/organisations, with a view to fulfilling the goal of educating men on the health risks they face.
Ambassadors
Each year, Movember is supported by well-known personalities who agree to come on board in an ambassadorial role. The awareness they generate for the cause is pivotal to the campaign’s success. Ambassadors range from politicians, sports stars, TV personalities, comedians, entertainers, musicians and high profile businessmen.
Going forward, Movember will continue to invest, develop and grow its Education and Awareness program, with a view to changing the actions and attitudes of men, related to their health, around the world.
The Awareness and Education Issue
On average men die five to six years younger than women. The suicide rate is four times higher for men than women and more than five men die prematurely each hour from potentially preventable illnesses.
Hard hitting facts; especially when you consider that there is no biological disadvantage that puts men at greater risk than women and according to recent research up to half of male cancer cases could be prevented by making healthy diet and lifestyle choices. The reasons for the current state of men’s health are numerous and complex but it appears that the biggest issue is the way in which men think about their health; preventative health being something many men just don’t compute. It is this issue that Movember’s Awareness and Education program is working hard to change.
Awareness and education alters behaviour and mind-sets, it gradually breaks down barriers, removes stigmas and brings about real change. Movember wants men to take responsibility for their health, prevent illness by leading a healthy lifestyle and understand the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others so they can appreciate when and how to seek help if needed.
Spreading the Word One Mo at a Time > How it Works
Movember’s tag line is ‘changing the face of men’s health’ which articulately describes the challenge – changing your appearance by growing a moustache for 30 days and the outcome – changing the understanding and attitudes men have towards their health. The moustache is Movember’s ribbon, it is the catalyst by which Movember intends to bring about real change through the awareness generated by the simple act of growing a Mo.
The appearance of a moustache on a usually clean shaven man prompts questions from those around them. Throughout the month of Movember they are constantly asked the question - why the moustache? Each Mo Bro then needs to justify his new look with an explanation about the unique challenges men face with their health, and key messages about prostate and testicular cancer. The result is a highly effective and authentic word-of-mouth campaign.
Is Movember Making a Difference?
The answer is yes, absolutely. Recent research carried out by Movember highlighted that the campaign is working successfully in terms of raising awareness whilst having a positive impact on making men think about their health. Movember participants were shown to spend more time thinking about health issues or reflecting on them than non-participants (the general population). To be specific, in the UK, the research revealed:
89% of participants spent time thinking about improving their general health
57% of participants have had a general check-up
70% discussed men’s health with their family, friends or colleagues during Movember
58% carried out personal research on men’s health issues during Movember
51% worried about their general health
77% understood that their health depends on how well they take care of themselves
The research encouragingly shows that participation in Movember does encourage men to proactively engage in the management of their health. However, findings also highlighted that 50% of men had ignored an issue rather than go to a doctor. This is proof that there is still work to be done and Movember has a responsibility to keep raising awareness, thereby motivating and engaging men around the world to change the face of men’s health.
Empowering the Mo Bro
Movember provides the platform by way of the website and tools for Mo Bros to participate, but it is the individual Mo Bros that bring the campaign to life by making it their own and communicating Movember’s men’s health messages in a way that is meaningful to them, their family and peers.
The Movember research revealed that the average British Mo Bro talks face-to-face about Movember and its men’s health messages to 61 people during the month. This means that during the 2010 campaign, it’s feasible that the 448,000 global participants personally informed over 27 million people about Movember and its key health messages. This isn’t taking into account the number of people they would have reached with messages sent via e-mail, posted on Facebook and Twitter.
The impact of this authentic communication coming from someone known and trusted is significantly more meaningful than any other sort of promotion. This is where the effectiveness of Movember’s awareness program lies. The moustache is the reason for Movember’s success and will always remain the central focus of all that Movember does.
The goal of Movember’s Awareness and Education program is to significantly increase the understanding of the health risks that men face and encourage them to act on that knowledge. This is achieved by:
Encouraging public and private conversation about the issue of men’s health via the growth of a moustache
Educating the Movember community that the best way to cure cancer is to prevent it through a healthy diet, not smoking, being physically active, staying at a healthy weight and knowing your family medical history
Prompting Mo Bros to make Movember the month to have an annual physical which includes cancer screening because most cancers, particularly prostate, testicular and skin cancer are highly curable if caught early
Removing the stigmas around health issues like prostate and testicular cancer by giving men the opportunity and confidence to talk about their health more openly
Educating men on the health risks they face, the symptoms and signs in both themselves and others and appreciate when and how to seek help if needed
We know from the many heart-felt emails thanking Movember that the Awareness and Education program is saving and changing lives today, a truly amazing outcome on which no value can be placed.
Movember's success lies in the fact that the campaign empowers Mo Bros and Mo Sistas and allows them to express and experience their journey in a way that is meaningful to them. Movember provides them with the tools but each individual is encouraged to stamp their own personal mark on their journey – there is no right or wrong way to take part in Movember, it’s participation that’s key. It is through the following mediums that Movember helps Mo Bros and Mo Sistas spread men’s health messages.
Campaign Creative
Each year a new creative concept is built which runs through all communication channels including the website, printed materials and media. This ensures the campaign is kept fresh and engaging for both returning Mo Bros and Mo Sistas and new recruits.
Movember.com
The website is the hub of Movember, it’s where Mo Bros and Mo Sistas register and in doing so, create an active and engaged global community. The online platform enables this community, united in their commitment to the cause, to share and experience the Movember journey through:
Mo Space: post photos and messages
News: latest updates on Mo news from around the country and world
Accessing men’s health information
Finding out about official Movember events, such as the Galas and running events
Competitions
Free Awareness and Education Collateral
Movember creates a bank of information and collateral that helps organisations, teams and individuals spread the Movember message; educating themselves and others on the health risks men face during their lifetime. Packs include:
Men’s health information
Posters: Men’s health and general
Donation boxes
Mo Party Packs
Wristbands and badges
The Media
Positively engaging the media is absolutely essential to Movember in continuing its growth and spreading its word. With Movember comes a multitude of amazing stories and it’s the role of the team in each country to share these stories with the media and thereby enlisting their help for the cause. In the UK alone in 2010, there were over 1,718 media hits, educating millions on the importance of men’s health. In addition, approximately 17.3% of the global online population had the opportunity to be exposed to this year’s Movember campaign during the month of November.
Events & Activities
Movember events are important vehicles for delivering a Movember experience to the community. By design, they are always fun events that engage, educate and excite those taking part. A Movember event can come in many guises – launch event, Mo Run, end of month Office Party or one of the official Movember Gala Partés held around the world to thank Mo Bros and Mo Sistas for their Mo growing efforts.
Community Engagement > Mo Bros on the Ground
Spreading the word and engaging local communities and businesses is critical to spreading Movember’s health messages. The Movember team is regularly asked to speak at events and is happy to oblige wherever possible. In addition, Movember proactively seeks out communities, groups and businesses with which we can engage.
Educating > Health Spokesmen
Working in conjunction with the Movember men’s health partners, Movember is able to arrange for health spokespeople, in the fields of prostate and testicular cancer, to deliver talks to groups/organisations, with a view to fulfilling the goal of educating men on the health risks they face.
Ambassadors
Each year, Movember is supported by well-known personalities who agree to come on board in an ambassadorial role. The awareness they generate for the cause is pivotal to the campaign’s success. Ambassadors range from politicians, sports stars, TV personalities, comedians, entertainers, musicians and high profile businessmen.
Going forward, Movember will continue to invest, develop and grow its Education and Awareness program, with a view to changing the actions and attitudes of men, related to their health, around the world.
Global Action Plan
Spoiler!
GLOBAL ACTION PLAN
Accelerating research outcomes through global collaboration
The Movember Foundation’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the state of men’s health. To this end Movember has established the Movember Global Action Plan (GAP), which aims to accelerate prostate cancer outcomes through global research collaboration.
Working with our prostate cancer partners in each country over the last few years, we identified an opportunity to accelerate research outcomes that benefit men by providing researchers around the world the ability to work together to address critical research challenges. Given our presence internationally, Movember is uniquely placed to address this challenge by facilitating and funding a new and bold approach to prostate cancer research collaboration that fast tracks outcomes.
To direct the GAP research priorities an independent Global Scientific Committee (GSC) has been established, comprised of internationally renowned prostate cancer experts from around the world.
GSC Independent Chair, Dr Colleen Nelson, knows the importance of Movember’s GAP:
“Prostate cancer research is often most effective when multi-disciplinary teams across different research institutions work together to address key scientific challenges. This is usually done within a given centre, occasionally across one country. Rarely is there an opportunity to do this on a global scale. Movember GAP provides an unprecedented challenge and opportunity to unite prostate cancer researchers across the globe to achieve key breakthroughs faster.”
Movember’s GAP programme currently has two elements:
1. Annual global collaborative research project
The overall goal of the global collaborative research project is to accelerate research outcomes through collaboration on annually identified priority scientific questions. These projects complement our substantial national research programmes provided by our prostate cancer partners. We believe that getting the best researchers from around the world to work together on key challenges will accelerate breakthroughs that will ultimately benefit men with prostate cancer. Further, we believe that team-based research, performed across borders with a strong collaborative mindset, can deliver innovation and knowledge sharing faster than research conducted primarily at a national level.
Each year Movember’s Global Scientific Committee (GSC) convenes a meeting to determine the number one research area that could benefit most from global collaboration. Once the priority area is endorsed by Movember’s Board then the best prostate cancer researchers in the world from both Movember and non-Movember countries are brought together and funded to collaborate and answer that question. Funded programmes will be no more than two years in duration, and will be required to deliver data and measurable outcomes within that timeframe, with reporting of interim milestones.
Importantly, the execution of the global collaborative research projects will lead to the generation of key data that will be shared freely with the entire prostate cancer community and beyond, via the Movember website. Over time, the sharing of this data will avoid unnecessary duplication of research effort and deliver greater return on the funds that Movember and other organizations invest in prostate cancer research.
The objective of the 2010 global collaborative research project, the global prostate cancer biomarker initiative is to answer critical, but as yet unanswered, clinical questions which will allow clinicians to better predict aggressive prostate cancer and characterise metastatic disease and treatment resistance by identifying clinical biomarkers that ultimately enhance patient treatment decisions. Movember has appointed a Global Research Programme Manager, Dr Mark Buzza, to implement the programme and is currently in the process of establishing the regional leadership teams for its first initiative. The aim is to start funding integrated research activities as part of this initiative by Q3 2011.
For more information please contact Mark on mark@movember.com or +61 3 8416 3900.
2. Promoveo - a prostate cancer knowledge exchange platform
Movember is creating a global, online community for prostate cancer researchers, clinicians and organisations called Promoveo. Similar to LinkedIn, but tailored specifically for the prostate cancer research community, Promoveo members can share ideas, find out what key research resources are available in other countries, post information to foster discussion, and connect with other researchers from across the globe to drive outcomes.
Stemming from Latin, Promoveo means to move forward, accomplish, advance, bring to light. Our aim is to create a forum for free information exchange about prostate cancer research that will accelerate outcomes. Imagine what possible opportunities may arise when a prostate cancer researcher in the Netherlands, for example, is able to connect with other researchers involved in the same field in Australia, Canada, the UK, US, and Brazil to share knowledge and resources.
Accelerating research outcomes through global collaboration
The Movember Foundation’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the state of men’s health. To this end Movember has established the Movember Global Action Plan (GAP), which aims to accelerate prostate cancer outcomes through global research collaboration.
Working with our prostate cancer partners in each country over the last few years, we identified an opportunity to accelerate research outcomes that benefit men by providing researchers around the world the ability to work together to address critical research challenges. Given our presence internationally, Movember is uniquely placed to address this challenge by facilitating and funding a new and bold approach to prostate cancer research collaboration that fast tracks outcomes.
To direct the GAP research priorities an independent Global Scientific Committee (GSC) has been established, comprised of internationally renowned prostate cancer experts from around the world.
GSC Independent Chair, Dr Colleen Nelson, knows the importance of Movember’s GAP:
“Prostate cancer research is often most effective when multi-disciplinary teams across different research institutions work together to address key scientific challenges. This is usually done within a given centre, occasionally across one country. Rarely is there an opportunity to do this on a global scale. Movember GAP provides an unprecedented challenge and opportunity to unite prostate cancer researchers across the globe to achieve key breakthroughs faster.”
Movember’s GAP programme currently has two elements:
1. Annual global collaborative research project
The overall goal of the global collaborative research project is to accelerate research outcomes through collaboration on annually identified priority scientific questions. These projects complement our substantial national research programmes provided by our prostate cancer partners. We believe that getting the best researchers from around the world to work together on key challenges will accelerate breakthroughs that will ultimately benefit men with prostate cancer. Further, we believe that team-based research, performed across borders with a strong collaborative mindset, can deliver innovation and knowledge sharing faster than research conducted primarily at a national level.
Each year Movember’s Global Scientific Committee (GSC) convenes a meeting to determine the number one research area that could benefit most from global collaboration. Once the priority area is endorsed by Movember’s Board then the best prostate cancer researchers in the world from both Movember and non-Movember countries are brought together and funded to collaborate and answer that question. Funded programmes will be no more than two years in duration, and will be required to deliver data and measurable outcomes within that timeframe, with reporting of interim milestones.
Importantly, the execution of the global collaborative research projects will lead to the generation of key data that will be shared freely with the entire prostate cancer community and beyond, via the Movember website. Over time, the sharing of this data will avoid unnecessary duplication of research effort and deliver greater return on the funds that Movember and other organizations invest in prostate cancer research.
The objective of the 2010 global collaborative research project, the global prostate cancer biomarker initiative is to answer critical, but as yet unanswered, clinical questions which will allow clinicians to better predict aggressive prostate cancer and characterise metastatic disease and treatment resistance by identifying clinical biomarkers that ultimately enhance patient treatment decisions. Movember has appointed a Global Research Programme Manager, Dr Mark Buzza, to implement the programme and is currently in the process of establishing the regional leadership teams for its first initiative. The aim is to start funding integrated research activities as part of this initiative by Q3 2011.
For more information please contact Mark on mark@movember.com or +61 3 8416 3900.
2. Promoveo - a prostate cancer knowledge exchange platform
Movember is creating a global, online community for prostate cancer researchers, clinicians and organisations called Promoveo. Similar to LinkedIn, but tailored specifically for the prostate cancer research community, Promoveo members can share ideas, find out what key research resources are available in other countries, post information to foster discussion, and connect with other researchers from across the globe to drive outcomes.
Stemming from Latin, Promoveo means to move forward, accomplish, advance, bring to light. Our aim is to create a forum for free information exchange about prostate cancer research that will accelerate outcomes. Imagine what possible opportunities may arise when a prostate cancer researcher in the Netherlands, for example, is able to connect with other researchers involved in the same field in Australia, Canada, the UK, US, and Brazil to share knowledge and resources.
FAQs are available on the Official Movember site.
*more to come*
My Movember page....PLEASE DONATE and ill donate back to you
http://mobro.co/Satveer
