For the past 30 days, the streets of Halifax have featured more moustachioed men than an Arcade Fire concert.
But as of tomorrow, the third annual Movember campaign in Canada will be over, and with its end hundreds of upper lips will once again be visible.
The campaign, which originated in Australia in 2003, challenges men to grow a mo’ — Australian slang for a moustache — for the 30 days of November.
Since its inception, Movember has spanned continents, with campaigns now in 11 countries, including Canada, the U.S., the U.K. and Spain.
Last year’s campaign in Canada was the second-largest, behind Australia, taking in $7.8 million for research. This year’s total is still accruing but it already dwarfs 2009’s total with $16.5-million committed — more than any other participating country.
About $250,000 of that came from people in Halifax like Burke Johnson, a psychology student at Dalhousie University.
“It’s a good cause. It’s fun,” said Johnson. “It’s a great way to raise money.” Johnson said he returned to his native New York last weekend, and got some startled reactions.
“People in New York are aware of Movember, but I guess they don’t get into it as much as people at Dal and Halifax,” he said. “I didn’t hear the end of it.”
Burke, like the majority of people interviewed by Metro yesterday, will shave off the ’stache tomorrow. But some fundraisers couldn’t make it the full 30 days.
“I don’t miss the itchiness,” said John Ells, a bartender at The Old Triangle, who shaved on Sunday. Staff at the Triangle raised about $1,000 over two nights.
“Also, (it was) for the girlfriend’s sake.”
