The Movember Foundation is the world’s leading charity focused on improvement of men’s health, specifically in the areas of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health with a special focus on suicide.  This past November I joined the movement by growing a mustache and raising $1110 for the charity, or $110 over my $1000 goal for this my first Movember campaign.

I first heard of Movember in a workplace about 8 years ago where a Mo’ team had formed and was growing mustaches and raising money for and awareness of prostate and testicular cancer, and men’s mental health issues and consequences, especially suicide.  Since then, I’ve been intending to join the cause, and am so very gratified that this year it finally happened.

While I started my campaign in memory of my Uncle Peter who took his own life at the age of 73 about this time last year, I ended it with tributes to three other lovely men, all of whom are still in my life, including my Dad Mark, my Father-In-Law John, and my Uncle David.  To read my tributes to all these men, feel free to visit my Movember 2018 Facebook Fundraising Page posts for each:

In thinking about and showing appreciation for my Uncles and Dads in this past month of the Thanksgiving tradition, I’ve come to a deeper realization of just how many amazing men, and boys too, I have the honor of knowing.  I intend to continue nurturing this mindful awareness of what they mean to me, like my step-brothers, brothers-in-law, cousins, nephews, and uncles, not to mention dear friends from every phase of my life, all of whom are becoming more precious to me with each passing year.