Movember comes to Jasper

Men, grow your moustaches! That’s the sound of Movember, as it kicks off for another year.

Organized by the Movember Foundation, the month asks participants to shave their faces clean and begin growing a moustache – all in the name of a good cause.

The month aims to “change the attitude men hold toward their health”, according to the organization’s website, where people can sign up online and people can begin donating.

For Jasperite Ryan Chilibeck, it’s an important event he’s been involved in for the last three years because he’s felt the pain of losing both his grandfathers to cancer. “It’s a pretty important idea,” he said noting that it’s an important way to raise awareness about men’s health as well as money with 100 per cent of all the money going towards research. 

Needless to say, he’ll be growing a mo’ to encourage the public to get involved. “I shaved clean yesterday, so hopefully next week I’ll have something to show,” he said. 

“The more the merrier, I say, if everyone’s going to look like a moron they might as well look like that together.”

This public display is what the organization is really looking for to help them gain awareness about men’s health. “The appearance of a new moustache opens up conversations, making the Movember participants a walking billboard, promoting men’s health for the whole month.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Chilibeck, who came to Jasper from Edmonton this year, is looking for local organizations to get involved by either donating prizes for the wrap-up party held at The Downstream on Nov. 29 or to hold an event during the month.

The wrap-up party – where participants are encouraged to dress up in anything to do with your moustache - offers a way for everyone, male and female, to get involved, with prizes being given out to the best team, miss movember and much more. 

While the month has already started, Chilibeck hopes it’s not too late to get work groups involved.

“You’re encouraged to get on a team... ideally we want a little bit of rivalry going between hotels and bars and stuff,” he said noting that individuals or teams can sign up for the month on the foundation’s website.

Chilibeck isn’t the only one getting involved with the various Jasperites involved, including the Jasper Wolves who’ve been taking part in the event for the past two years.

Last year, Canadians contributed more than $2 million towards the Movember Foundation making it the fourth top contributing country behind Australia (where the month originated), New Zealand and the United Kingdom. 

Anyone looking to help Chilibeck in his quest to raise money for Movember can contact him at 780-852-3205 or visit the website at ca.movemberfoundation.com.