United We Mo: CTBites Joins Half Full Brewery For Movember Charity

James Gribbon

I'm the first to admit it: there have been times when I have lamented my luxurious pelt. I was patchy at 14 years of age, manly at 18, and, at 25, evolutionarily questionable.  What kind of cruel universe imbues a man with sense capable of vanity, then steals the hair from his head while growing a thatch capable of roosting fowl on his chest? It is a sorry lot, indeed. 

My existential torment, "drop by drop upon the heart" as Aeschylus said, may have found its moment of grace: it is with unusually hirsute pride that I announce I have joined the Movember Foundation with Team Captain Conor Horrigan and the Half Full Beerds as we put our whiskers to work this November. Please read on to find out just how ridiculous we are willing to look to fight against prostate and testicular cancers, and help mental health challenges.

The Movember Foundation is a global charity with roots in Melbourne, Australia back in 2003. By last year, over a million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas (yep - women, too) participated to raise $147 million for cancer research, and helping people live with and beyond cancer and mental health issues. A key part of all this is helping with awareness and education. Many men just aren't too familiar with the risks we face in terms of our physical and mental health, or are reluctant to discuss how we're feeling, or to seek help when something is wrong. 

Here's the Foundation's take: 

Movember’s tagline, changing the face of men’s health, aptly describes the challenge of participating in Movember – changing your appearance by growing a moustache for 30 days, and the outcome – changing the understanding and attitudes men have towards their health. The Mo is Movember’s ribbon, it’s the catalyst for change.

Starting with a full, close shave at the Half Full Brewery on Halloween night, and running through the month of November, I, along with Half Full Brewery crew Conor Horrigan, Jon Charest, Charlie Doar, and who knows who else, will be growing preposterous facial hair for the good of all mankind. And I do not use the word "preposterous" lightly: Conor, Jon and Charlie will only be shaving one half of their faces - and interacting with the public at large - for the entire month. I will be taking a comparatively cowardly route and growing The Gentleman's Sellek. 

Our loss, in terms of future relationship status and standing in the community, will be the Movember Foundation's gain. If you can find it in your heart to donate any amount at all, please do. I will keep you all updated via my Movember page, and via Twitter.

United We Mo.