Events will take place in Kilkenny throughout this month to celebrate and support the charitable campaign of Movember.
The name ‘Movember’ comes from a combination of the slang term for moustache, the Mo, and the month of November. Movember challenges men to grow a moustache to raise money for men’s health. The rules are simple, start November 1, clean-shaven and then grow a moustache for the entire month. The moustache represents men’s health, raising awareness and funds for cancers that affect men. Much like a charity race, the men of Movember commit to growing a moustache for 30 days.
Kilkenny will be playing host to a variety of events supporting this world-wide charitable occasion. On Wednesday November 3, there will be a coffee day at the Hibernian hotel. On Friday November 12, a mojito night with €5 cocktails and Movember shot all month will take place at the Left Bank. On Saturday November 13, make a Mo donation at Morrison’s. On Wednesday November 17, there is coffee day at the Left Bank.
On Thursday November 18, a Mexican night with €2 tequila shots will be available at Tynan’s bar. On Monday November 22, Matt the Miller’s will be holding a cowboy barn dance and there is also a Movember cup-cake day at the Two Dame’s Coffee Boutique. On Saturday November 27, there will be a Movember gala party with cheesy 70s disco and fancy dress at the Set. And much, much more.
“The idea for Movember was sparked in 2003 over a few beers in Melbourne, Australia,” says the Movember Foundation’s website. “The plan was simple; to bring the moustache back as a bit of a joke and do something for men’s health. No money was raised in 2003, but the guys behind the Mo realised the potential a moustache had in generating conversations about men’s health. Inspired by the women around them and all they had done for breast cancer, the Mo Bros set themselves on a course to create a global men’s health movement.”
In 2004 the campaign concentrated on raising awareness and funds for combating prostate cancer. Over 400 ‘Mo Bros’ joined the movement that year, raising $55,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia - the single largest donation they had ever received. The Movember moustache has grown year after year since then, expanding across the world.
In 2009, over €31 million was raised for Movember’s global beneficiaries. The funds raised through Movember’s Ireland campaign benefit Action Prostate Cancer a programme of The Irish Cancer Society.
For more information see ie.movember.com Make sure to support these charitable events and sponsor a Mo Bro today.
