It’s ‘Movember’ — Time To Grow a Mustache To Support Men’s Health

Published: October 30, 2009

New Haven, Conn. — Once again, Yale-affiliated men are banding together as "The Handsome Dans" to grow mustaches in support of prostate cancer research.

This is the second year that Yale students, faculty and staff are participating in "Movember" - an international campaign, held annually in November, to raise money to benefit charitable organizations concerned with men's health. Nick Aberle, a postdoctoral fellow who hails from Australia - where Movember was first launched - introduced the fundraising drive at Yale last year. Participants enlist the support of friends, family members and others to sponsor them as they grow a "mo" - Australian slang for a mustache. All participants must be clean-shaven before they begin the drive.

"The Handsome Dans" will contribute any monies raised to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. Prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer in the United States, kills more than 28,000 people every year but is 90% curable if detected early, according to the Movember website.

Last year The Handsome Dans raised more than $2,000. This year, Aberle has personally written to the masters of residential colleges in the hopes of further spreading the word about Movember.

Those interested in taking part in Movember can sign up at http://us.movember.com/get-involved. Choose "The Handsome Dans" to join the Yale team.

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