Growing 'staches for charity

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Mustaches might not currently be in style, but during the month of November growing a "stash" maybe the best thing a man can do for his health.

"It's all about bringing back the mustache for 30 days to raise some awareness and funds for prostate and testicular cancer," said Adam Garone, co-founder of Movember.

Garone started the fundraiser called Movember and is shaving off his current mustache to get ready for the event. He's changed the month of November into Movember. "Mo" is the slang word for mustache in his native Australia.

"We were sort of inspired by all the women's movements and what they had done for breast cancer, and we thought there is nothing like it for cancers that affect men," said Garone.

The idea with growing a mustache is to help men start the conversation about their health.

“Someone's going to ask you, 'What's up with the mustache?'" said Garone. "And that opens up conversations about cancers that affect men."

What started in 2004, has turned into a global event that came to Austin for the first time last year. And it has turned into quite the competition at some work places to see who can grow the best mo.

"It was a huge amount of fun because you go into these meetings and you're sitting around and all the guys are wearing mustaches," said Anthony Poole, who took part last year. "We had big commander mos, we had big mos and lame mo."

Last year, the event raised $2.4 million for prostate cancer research.

This year, they're teaming up with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to donate half the proceeds.

"Men's health issues are usually unfortunately discussed after diagnosis," said Chris Brewer, senior manager of development with the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

That may change thanks to a little facial hair.

To register, head over to the Lance Armstrong Foundation on East Sixth Street for a free trim Thursday between 6 a.m. and 2 p.m. Then, register online and start raising money as you grow a mustache for the next 30 days.