It all began with a few guys, drinking a few beers in Melbourne, Australia in 2003.

Inspired by efforts to fund breast cancer research, the Aussies wanted to rock some serious moustaches to raise awareness about men’s health.

The solution was Movember: a grassroots fundraiser that generated $55,000 for Australian prostate cancer research in 2004 and has since blossomed into a worldwide campaign whereby men grow moustaches and collect donations.

“We want guys to talk about it, to realize it’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” said Catherine Patterson, marketing and communications manager for Prostate Cancer Canada (PCC), adding that prostate cancer is often stigmatized because it affects an organ in the male reproductive system, causing detriment to urinary and sexual functions.

One in six Canadian men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point during their lifetime, she said, and over 4,300 men will die of the disease this year.

Despite solemn protests from girlfriends and wives, guys across Winnipeg are jumping on the Movember bandwagon.

“Some of the guys were reluctant to do it ... it was either get action in bed or grow a moustache,” said Thomas Stewart, 27, the head chef at Fude, an Osborne Village bistro.

Stewart and his cooks opted for the latter and have created a fundraising team on the Canadian Movember campaign website, which funnels funds to PCC.

“The girlfriend doesn’t want to look at me,” laughed Stewart. “There’s some definite cringing going on.”

Fude is also offering a free appetizer to any customer who makes a $10 PCC donation during the month of November.

Not to be outdone, Luxalune, a gastropub in south Osborne, has been donating a dollar for every pint of beer sold during happy hour (4-7 p.m.) and giving away fake moustaches to every customer who purchases a pint.

“ The girlfriend doesn’t want to look at me ... There’s some definite cringing going on.

Thomas Stewart, head chef, Fude bistro

“Everyone gets a kick out of the moustaches,” said Katie Doerksen, promotions spokesperson for Luxalune.

At the end of the month, the bar will host a Movember wrap-up party and a dollar from every pint sold during the night will go toward prostate cancer research and awareness, Doerksen said.

Kevin Laurie, 24, a merchandiser at Future Shop on Regent Avenue, was the first to bring Movember to work last year. From there, it exploded into a 20-member campaign team that raised nearly $1,500 for prostate cancer research.

“The other guys got really excited about it,” Laurie said, adding that this year he hopes to raise even more money and awareness with nearly 30 guys well on their way to full moustaches.

“Last year I went for the handle bar,” he said. “This year I’m going for the sideburns and the mutton chops.”

One of the important aspects of Movember is that it educates men about prostate examinations, said PCC’s Patterson.

“If we can alleviate concerns about testing, we would be very pleased,” she said.

Prostate cancer can be virtually benign if detected early and monitored regularly.

Money generated from Movember will go in part toward isolating a cause for what is widely believed to be a preventable disease, she added.

Visit http://ca.movember.com.

Published in Volume 65, Number 12 of The Uniter (November 18, 2010)