This month, lacrosse teams all over the country are taking part in the annual Movember campaign to raise money to help support men’s mental and physical health.
The annual campaign, which has been taking place every November since the Movember Foundation was formed in 2003, traditionally sees men grow (or, in many cases, attempt to grow) moustaches to highlight male suicide as well as testicular and prostate cancers.
But the event is not just for those who can grow facial hair, affectionately called Mo Bros when taking part in Movember; women, or Mo Sisters, can take part as well through initiatives such as Move for Movember (the challenge is to run or walk 60km over the month), Host a Mo-ment (rally the troops and do something fun and easy - virtually, of course), or Mo your own Way (choose an adventure challenge - “a gruelling test of endurance or some other wildcard idea”).
So far, 34 lacrosse teams are taking the plunge and have already raised a whopping £40,054 between them in 23 days*!
A spokesperson for the University of East Anglia Lacrosse Club, one of the club’s taking part, said Movember, and the issues it highlights and raises money for, is so important.
“Movember is about saving and improving men’s lives through various different projects.
“Our club views it as a vital instrument to help raise awareness of issues surrounding men’s physical and mental health.
“So far, we have held various fundraisers which the whole club can take part in, and have many more exciting events to come”!
Any money raised will help to fund vital research into testicular cancer (the world’s most common cancer among men aged 15-49) and prostate cancer (1 in 8 men in the UK will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetime), as well as helping to prevent male suicide (globally, on average one man dies every minute from suicide).
It is, perhaps, more important than ever to raise money for charities given the tough year everyone has had, with many organisations not being able to host the fundraising events they would ordinarily have organised.
England Lacrosse wish the teams well and can’t wait to see the final total amount of money raised at the end of the month!
Each team can be found on social media if you want to find out more about what they’re doing this Movember month or if you want to donate, simplyclick the links below!
*information correct at the time of writing.