Getting scruffy for a cause

Women get October. When ribbons adorn everything from Campbell's soup cans to football jerseys, it's obvious that breast cancer awareness month has arrived.

While it may not be so obvious, it's only fair that men get November for their health awareness. Instead of pink ribbons they use facial hair to spread their message.

Two facial-hair-filled events, Movember and No Shave November, allow participating men to let their facial hair grow freely. Those who choose not to shave for No Shave November may be doing it just for kicks, while those who actually attempt to grow a mo, which is just slang for moustache, are trying to help raise awareness for men's health issues -- specifically prostate cancer.

Because prostate cancer produces few or no symptoms and can be difficult to detect, it is important to raise awareness. Men need to take the precautionary steps, like having an annual physical and knowing their family health history, to ensure that they stay healthy.

Lee Schlitt, owner and manager of Broadway Prescription Shop, formed the team "seMO Bros" with several of his close friends. Schlitt then registered his team on movember.com, a website that allows teams to seek out sponsorships and donations, in hopes of raising awareness and funds for prostate cancer as well as other health issues affecting men.

"My mo will definitely catch someone's attention and spark a conversation, which will lead to raising vital awareness," Schlitt said. "I mean, what's never come back into style -- a moustache. People will want to know why I'm trying to bring it back."

As instrumental as Movember has been in raising funds and awareness for men's health, most college students who participate in November's events are more likely to take part in No Shave November. They view it more as just for fun, or as an excuse to grow, or sometimes attempt to grow, a big burly lumberjack beard.

"I'm not going to snub anyone doing it just for fun," Schlitt said. "They're still going to be raising awareness for men's health, even if they aren't raising money doing it."

Whether they're dedicating their upper lip to Movember with their rendition of a Fu Manchu moustache or just boycotting their razors for No Shave November, these participants are becoming walking, talking billboards for the entire month.

Jordan Rains, a senior at Southeast, is one of those just attempting the lumberjack for fun.

"I'm doing No Shave November because I'm a bro," Rains said. "No really, I'm just doing it because I thought it would be fun."

He said his favorite part so far about the whole experience is being able to look as gross and manly as possible, all the while having a legitimate excuse for doing so.

Ladies, don't worry. Just because you have no moustache to donate to the cause doesn't mean that you can't help raise awareness during Movember; become a Mo Sista. A Mo Sista is a supporter of Mo Bro. They can help out the cause without giving up their razors.

If you're interested in learning how you can help raise awareness for men's health and more general information about Movember, visit movember.com. You can also join Schlitt's team seMO Bros or donate at mobro.co/semobros.