I shouldn’t write posts when I’m upset (or even ‘irked’), because what I’m about to say may very well cost me a friend or two.
I was approached today by someone who asked if I would be growing a moustache for “Movember“. When I replied in the negative, I was told that I must be a fan of prostate cancer.
I’ll say that again. A fan of prostate cancer.
I know that the Movember people are shuddering as they read that.
For the uninitiated, Movember is part of a movement to bring men’s health issues into the limelight; men start the month clean-shaven, and do their best to grow a splendid ‘stache before December 1.
Because I was in the media last year at this time, I was a Movember spokesguy. I was in a media men competition to see which local “celebrities” could sport the coolest crumb-catcher. (Let’s just say I lost. Badly. And ended up looking very much like this picture of William H. Macy.)
Many of my friends participated last year, and are doing so again this year, and I applaud them for taking part. In 2010, about 119,000 Canadians were part of the nearly 450,000 worldwide Movember registrants, and of the $76.8 million raised last year by Movember events, $22.3 million came from The Great White North. GREAT work.
That said, here’s my problem with what was presented to me today.
As a man who literally watched his father die of multiple cancers (I witnessed the moment of death, and it was something I’ll never forget), I have a hard time when someone suggests that I’m a fan of cancer.
I’m not sure why our society has come to value thinking things and feeling things over doing things, but it’s reaching a fever pitch and somebody needs to say something about it.
People put yellow ribbon magnets on the back of their car to show they “support the troops”. Really?!?! Have you ever donated to a care package for a soldier fighting overseas, or helped pack one up, like the people at Give 2 The Troops? Spent Christmas Day at a widow’s home to console her and her kids the first holiday season without their Dad? At a minimum, have you ever walked up to a veteran and thanked them for their service? No? Then tell me how, exactly, you support the troops. Because no war was ever won with magnets on the back of a car.
Even the people at the World Wildlife Fund have caved; this page on their website offers graphics and links you can put on your website to show that you support their efforts around the world. But the text on that very page says, “It doesn’t mean you have to give us money 
It simply means, for example, that you approve of the work we are carrying out and the goals we are trying to achieve.” Really?!?! How many pandas did “approval” save from extinction last year?!
I’m sorry to be the one to point this out; really I am, but facial hair isn’t the cure for prostate cancer. The cure for prostate cancer will come from research. Research done probably by incredibly smart people in incredibly white lab coats using incredibly expensive equipment and incredibly expensive tests in incredibly expensive facilities. So the cure for prostate cancer, and pretty much any other disease, will come from research. Research that gets paid for with money.
The Movember people will tell you that the event raises awareness of men’s health issues. I’m sure that there are some evangelists for the cause that get out there and talk about prostate cancer; but outside the media, the overwhelming proportion of men I’ve seen participating in Movember are simply raising awareness of facial hair. My friends in the media are really driving the “awareness” bus on this one, because your average Joe seems to go through Movember without the words “prostate cancer” or “men’s health issues” escaping their lips even once, much less doing anything to raise money. Yet social media is littered with conversations about the sacrifices some of these men are making by not shaving.
I’ll let that last sentence sink in.
Guys, if you want me to applaud your sacrifice, go run a 10K for breast cancer and raise a pile of donations in the process. Tell me you support the fight against bullying after you’ve gotten involved in youth groups or community organizations that focus on it.
As a person who’s done a thing or two in his career to raise awareness for various charities and causes, let me say it this way: Give money. Or inspire other people to give money. Make an actual sacrifice. Take an actual stand that involves more than a mouse click.
Anything less than that is just (upper) lip service.
Bravo. I just know the Movember movement here in KW. And this group is doing it right. Events I’ve been to have been to raise funds and awareness. Last night’s did both as well. Things you can for your (men’s obviously) prostate health was part of the evening.
Thank you for speaking your mind. And maybe kick an ass or two.
Thanks Jacki – yeah, there are a ton of places where it’s done right, and the Movember organization does its best to remind people that it’s not just about easing up on grooming. Glad to hear the event reinforced what it’s really about.
It’s great to see how many guys are getting involved in Movember, but you’re right – the number of people talking about the event is far more than the number of people talking about WHY we’re supposed to be doing it in the first place. I wrote something similar last year at the height of the “change your facebook picture to help abused children” craze. http://www.cutthechatter.com/2010/12/slacktivism.html
Graeme, I’m SO glad you reminded me about that last part. Had forgotten all about it.
Great post … but I’m still hung up on what kind of idiot would say someone was a fan of cancer. That is the strangest thing I’ve ever heard!
Yeah, different people are less effective brand evangelists than others.
I am pretty shocked that someone would say that to you – regardless of knowing your personal history, it is a pretty crappy thing to say.
I am glad that you wrote while irked. I think that some of my best posts, possibly my only good posts, were written while irked. Passion is a good thing IMHO. I’ll keep reading
I agree that you need to do more than say you support a cause, and I know that MANY participating in movember are doing just that… by raising awareness and funds. I also so many how are not doing anything more than growing facial hair, and I don’t get it…
Thanks, Krista – I appreciate it.
It occurs to me in hindsight that while I was ‘irked’ I might have skipped taking the time to make it crystal clear to the Movember participants that I fully recognize that the event is inventive and fun, and obviously raises much-needed funds. My focus in the moment, though, was the people who are just taking the month off from shaving and not doing any (as Seth would call it) “sneezing”.
Way back in the day when getting on the Internet was difficult and required Ethernet cables and routers and such, I volunteered a couple Saturday mornings a month to the local Ronald McDonald House here in Dayton right around the corner from Children’s. The house was old, the interior walls were not insulated very well. I heard more anguish (and a lot of not-so-family-friendly words being raged at insurance companies) than a lifetime will ever allow me to forget. Each Saturday, I told myself I could not go back, but I kept going back to help.
I felt so helpless and only wanted to just jump in and “fix” their problems, but knew there was nothing I could do. So I did what I knew how to do, what I could, even though it felt really small and trite. I hope it was a bit more than a mustache. Email was critical for the families staying a long way from home… at least I told myself that…
The House eventually moved into a newer facility that was cabled well and Internet got easier to use, so I never had to make that decision to stop coming in to help. I don’t know how the staff did that day after day and stayed sane.
I’ve met a lot of families that stay at Target House, the place where parents stay while their kids are being treated at St Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis. Trust me, email IS critical to them. Your tangible contribution made people’s lives better, and while they might not know exactly who to thank, you gave them something they’re grateful for.