If a few of the men in your life are looking a little scruffy around the upper lip this week, there is a good reason. It is Movember, the yearly campaign where men grow mustaches during November to raise money and awareness for men’s health. And this year, the trend comes with a heartwarming twist.
What is new this year
The 2026 campaign theme is “Make a Growmitment.” According to a November 5 report from 98.9 myFM News in Ontario, the idea is for men to challenge a friend to grow a mustache together, check in with each other through the month, and raise funds as a team. Movember is marking 20 years in Canada, and Todd Minerson, who leads Movember Canada, said the goal is to reduce the stigma around men’s physical and mental health.
The campaign started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, when a pair of friends talked about 30 others into growing mustaches. It has since spread around the world. In Ireland, Midwest Radio reported on November 2 that people are being urged to sign up. Movember Ireland’s director, Sarah Ouellette, said “fundraising can also help men open up about their health.”
On U.S. college campuses, the movement is taking shape too. Ohio State University kicked off its Movember events on November 2 with hot chocolate and campus resources, and has more gatherings planned for November 16 and 30, The Lantern reported on November 6.
Why the “check in” part matters
Here is the heart of it. Men, on the whole, are less likely to report health concerns or ask for help, as Ohio State’s counseling staff told The Lantern. Many men put off checkups, keep worries to themselves, and assume they should handle hard things alone.
Movember says almost 75,000 Canadian men died before age 75 in 2023, largely from causes that could have been prevented. That number is sobering. But it also carries hope. Prevention often starts with something as simple as a friend asking, “Have you been to the doctor lately?” or “How are you really doing?”
The Bible has long recognized the strength of a faithful friend:
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.” (Proverbs 27:17, KJV)
A mustache is a silly reason to start a conversation. That is exactly what makes it work.
You do not need a mustache to take part
The campaign offers several ways in. Besides growing a “Mo,” people can walk or run 60 kilometers (about 37 miles) over the month, host a small event, set a personal challenge, or donate to someone else’s effort. Women and girls can join as supporters, too. Some campaigns call them “Mo Sisters.”
Ways your family can join in
- Make it a family walk. Thirty-seven miles in a month is a little over a mile a day. Take an after-dinner stroll together and track your progress on the fridge.
- Pair up the men. Encourage Dad, Grandpa, an uncle or a church friend to pick a buddy and agree to a weekly check-in by phone or over coffee.
- Let the kids have fun. Paper mustaches on sticks make for great family photos, and they open the door to talking about why taking care of our bodies matters.
- Book the checkup. If a man in your home has been putting off a physical, November is a good month to schedule one. Talk with a doctor about which screenings are right for your age and family history.
- Pray for the men you love. Name them one by one at the dinner table this month.
Trends usually come and go in a week. This one has lasted more than two decades because it taps into something we all need: friends who notice, ask, and stick around. Through every storm, we rise together, and sometimes the first step is a buddy saying, “Let’s do this together.”
This article is for general information only. Please talk with your doctor about your own health questions.
Who is the friend who sharpens you, and how could you check in on him this month? Share in the comments below.
Sources: 98.9 myFM News / Norfolk Today, “Movember Canada marks 20 years with new challenge supporting men’s health” (Nov 5, 2026); Midwest Radio, “‘Movember’ for men’s health” (Nov 2, 2026); The Lantern, “Ohio State’s Movember campaign promotes men’s health through campus events” (Nov 6, 2026); Evopure, “What Is Movember? 2026 Rules, Dates and How to Take Part”; KJV Proverbs 27:17.
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