Cleankill Pest Control’s Managing Director Paul Bates is shunning the razor this November in aid of charity. Paul will be growing a mo’ as part of Movember, an annual global initiative that raises money for men’s health. In particular, it finds ways to reduce the number of premature deaths due to prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems. Their stated aim is to – “stop men dying too young”.
Movember started in Melbourne, Australia, in 2003, when two friends, Travis Garone and Luke Slattery, decided to highlight the issue of premature deaths among young men by growing that most unfashionable facial feature of the early noughties – the moustache. Call it a cookie duster, a lip doily, a mouth mirken, a slug, a nose bug, or a snot mop, the moustache was undoubtedly unfashionable in the early noughties and the thought of gangs of men championing upper lipholstery in the cause of men’s health was certainly brave. It caught on, and from 30 friends in 2003, it has now had over 5 million MoBros and MoSistas, funds over 1,200 men’s health projects around the world and has raised around £500,000,000.
The Movember Foundation has set itself the challenge of seeing a 25 per cent reduction in men dying prematurely by 2030. This must be seen against forecasts of a doubling in prostate cancer cases in the next 15 years and the doubling of testicular cancer cases in the last 50 years. In the UK, one in eight men will suffer from mental health problems and three in four suicides are male – in the world, one man dies every minute from suicide.
Cleankill and its staff are keen supporters of several charity initiatives. They understand that businesses must work for the betterment of the community as well as themselves. To learn more about Cleankill’s commitment to the community, click here.
Paul is supported in this endeavour by fellow director, Jon Whitehead, who will be growing his mouse-tache. Paul has set himself a modest target this time and he would really appreciate your donations. To donate and encourage his facial hair growing, click here.
(He has a sneaking suspicion his partner will double any contributions to get him to shave it off early!)