Olympia Moustache Militia raises money for men’s health in Movember

In recent years, the month of November has become “Movember,” a time to grow moustaches and raise awareness for men’s health.

The idea dates back to 2003, when a group of friends in Australia came up with the moustache challenge. Since then, more than $559 million has been raised worldwide for men’s health programs that target mental health, prostate and testicular cancer and more, according to the Movember Foundation.

The movement has caught on at Fisher-Jones Family Dentistry, where the office’s Olympia Moustache Militia is raising money and awareness for the foundation.

For the past three years, Dr. Garrett Barker has convinced partners Dr. James Jones and Dr. Matthew Fisher to grow moustaches in November. Each year, the militia has raised about $500 for the foundation while sparking conversations about men’s health, Barker said.

“Growing mustaches is a scary proposition for some people,” said Barker, noting that even the office’s female employees participate by holding little moustaches on sticks. “Men’s health is one of those things men just don’t talk about. It’s a great opportunity to start the conversation.”

Barker said his wife begrudgingly accepts that once a year, he will let the whiskers flourish on his upper lip, all in the name of charity.

“Now she knows it comes every November,” said Barker, hoping the trend continues to catch on locally. “If I see somebody with a moustache, I always want to ask if they’re doing it for Movember.”

So far in 2014, the Olympia Moustache Militia has brought in $270, and is accepting donations online at us.movember.com/team/1546629.

This story was originally published November 6, 2014 at 2:45 PM with the headline "Olympia Moustache Militia raises money for men’s health in Movember."