Movember is the month to FEED THE BEAST

Mustache Season is back! It's a great time of year for those men that like to grow hideous hair patches on their face for the one-time a year they are brave enough to do so. All in the name of charity right?

Well count me in on one of those brave men that like to prove their body produces testosterone and aren't afraid to repel the sex-drive of their significant other and risk a month of celibacy. Once again, all in the name of charity right?

FEED THE BEAST

There are several reasons I chose to participate in Movember and risk public ridicule and a "nookie-free" November.

1. I'm tired of Cancer and the thousands of lives it hurts every single year AKA "This sh*t has gotta stop"
2. I value myself as philanthropic and an advocate for health-awareness (or hypochondria as my wife would have you believe)
3. I'm not afraid of making a fool out of myself (especially if I hit the daily double of annoying my loving sister at the same time)
4. It's fun.

I'd like to elaborate on numero quatre. Movember is darn fun (yes, DARN!). Truthfully, part of the fun lies in number three; for one month I can look as ridiculous as possible and no one can say a darn (there's that word again) about it! This may beckon back to my wrestling days when I was a "heel" (bad guy) and my job, every time I stepped into the ring, was to make an a$$ out of myself.

It's also fun because you can develop a catchphrase for your personal campaign like, "FEED THE BEAST" and inappropriately invite your wife to, "come and go for a ride" (on my handlebars of course)

That said, a lot of the FUN is generated from the staff of Movember. I have to say, I think they've created the slickest fundraising campaign ever! It's probably not even close. Here's why Movember is so successful, in no particular order:

• They keep the cause and issues at the forefront of their campaign: It's easy to participate in Movember, grow your 'stache and never realize what you are growing and fundraising for; however, embedded in all their communications lies statistics about prostate cancer.
• It's the most interactive campaign: From a styling guide to pictures of your fellow 'Mo Bros' to a map of featured Movember events and promotions, this campaign could keep you engaged for the entire year, let alone one measly month.
• It provides community, competition and fodder for your friends and family: Whether you attempt to raise more money than your friend or just grow a better 'stache, this campaign provides friendly competition between friends, family and colleagues. In addition, either yourself or a close buddy will end up growing the most hideous, patchy mustache of all-time and this will provide countless jokes between friends for the next year. Finally, this campaign allows you to interact with individuals that share a common goal of looking stupid and maybe even interact with individuals whose lives' have been affected by Prostate Cancer. 
• It has spawned fantastic merchandise, celebrity involvement and prizes from a mustache growing initiative 
• Last but not least, there are "Gala Partes" for all participants of Movember to mingle with fellow "Mo Bros" and awards like, "Man of Movember" are presented. 

One idea I would present is a t-shirt that includes a QR code to your MO Space for another path to donations. 

I advise PR, marketing and social profit professionals to check out the excellent work of the Movember campaign. Check out the seamless interactions with Facebook where you can keep tabs on your Facebook MOs (I'm coming for you Steve Gillon), check out the, 'Lodge' that includes 2010 award winners and celebrities that have embraced the "lip tickler" and finally check out my MO Space and donate today!

P.S. I will be providing on the spot updates if and when I get food stuck in my baby, which just so happened to be my one of my goals from the on-set of my Movember journey. I'd suggest your donate $5 every time I do so, because I will take pictures!