No-Shave November is a month-long journey during which participants do not shave and groom in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. The rules of No-Shave November are simple: put down your razor for 30 days and donate your monthly hair-maintenance expenses to the cause.
The goal of No-Shave November is to grow awareness by embracing one's hair, which many cancer patients lose. However, this event is not restricted to only men. Women can participate by putting down the razor for 30 days as well.
Organized by the Movember Foundation, it is the only charity tackling men’s health on a year round global scale. They are addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, as 14% of men diagnosed with it.
Newtown High School PE/health teacher Edward Strait is one of many who puts down the razor during the time between Halloween and thanksgiving.
“I like the idea of participating for a cause that affects so many people. Something so simple can raise awareness nationwide. It's a worthy cause,” Strait said.
Strait also describes how people donate the cost of their grooming supplies for the month to no-shave.org and the donations contribute to investments in groundbreaking cancer research, which provide free information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers.
Additionally, high schoolers also join the movement. NHS senior PJ Pfeiffer said, “I did it last year, and it gives me the opportunity to show my manliness, and I also feel likes it is for a good cause. One of my friend’s mom’s had cancer, so I also do it to show my support.”
Men of all ages participate for many reasons, and having the ability to show support for those who suffered or are suffering from cancer is one of them.
Although no shave November is a public movement, some people lack the knowledge of exactly why people participate.
“I do it because my friends do it. I was not aware others participate for an actual reason,” NHS junior Nick Cappelli said.
This is also the case for other males who cooperate in the occasion.
“I’ve just recently started doing no shave November because my brother and people around me have done it in the past. I had no idea there was a further meaning to it, but now that I know, it gives more significance to the event,” NHS junior Thomas Usher said.
No shave November has been a tradition for many years, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2009 that members of the Chicagoland Hill family decided to use it as a means to raise money for charity. It was a project that held special meaning to the eight Hill children after their father, Matthew Hill, passed away from colon cancer in November 2007.
We as a community need to spread awareness of no shave November, as well as educating the youth on why this popular movement occurs. By doing so, we can spread cancer awareness and raise funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education.
Image Courtesy of 99CentRazor