A lot of fundraisers take the form of “if you sacrifice some money, I’ll sacrifice something about myself, too.” To benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation, do-gooders will drag their bodies along 60 miles of pavement if you’ll drag $60 from your wallet. If you cram a few bills into Central American relief efforts, Iowan altruists will cram hot wings into their mouths. British people will freeze their asses swimming the English Channel if you’ll unfreeze your assets to aid people with spinal cord injuries. It’s like we see that some people suffer, so we offer to suffer a little bit too, and ask others to suffer a little bit along with us.
Get on board the Suffer Train, everybody!
I bet much of this comes from religion. I was raised Catholic and was taught that in order to understand the 40 days and 40 nights Jesus spent eating nothing at all, I had to eat fish. I hated fish, so by Good Friday I really understood Jesus’s pain.
But nothing could prepare me for Movember.
I decided somewhat capriciously to grow a mustache for the month of November. Back in 2003, a couple of Aussies somewhat capriciously started a movement to grow mustaches as a way to raise funds to fight prostate cancer. They called the movement Movember and have spread the charitable group and idea to about 21 countries so far. As Movember has grown, so has the focus of the funds. Now the charity helps fund the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Livestrong, and other cancer and mental health organizations. Additionally, the mustaches are meant to spark conversations about men’s health issues. According to Movember’s last annual report, “1 in 4 Mo Bros1 recommended someone they know go to the doctor”. I figured this was as good a reason as I needed to grow a mustache.
Two of my friends are also participating as part of a mini-movement at each of their workplaces. I don’t know how it’s been for them, but for me, I’m getting a good sense of what kind of pain my cancer-stricken brethren have endured. Since my mustache started coming in, I’ve been described as looking like a “predator” or a “70s porn star.” And this is coming from inside my household. I’ve been laughed at and spit on2. I’m actually losing face by gaining face. I think it’s safe to assume that Tom Selleck, Sam Elliott, and Ron Swanson have all known the same unfair maligning. But they persevered, didn’t they? They suffered through the mental anguish provided by their peers, maybe even in reverence for those who have suffered the greater anguish provided by cancer. So I’ll persevere, too.
It’s a long road I walk to November 30th. I’m sure as my facial hair grows, so will grow the torment. Won’t you consider suffering along with me by either donating dollars or encouraging a man in your life to get a health check-up? Even my beautiful wife chipped in some money along with this comment: “Just because I hate moustaches doesn’t mean I don’t support you. :) I love you.”
– Drew
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1 The male participants in the fundraiser
2 Although it could have just been the Seattle rain