Jeremy Barker is a well put together young man. He obviously takes his time getting dressed, and he doesn’t mind you knowing it. He also has a small, very tidy moustache. Turns out it’s for Movember. The month when men grow moustaches to raise money and awareness for prostate cancer, and men’s mental health initiatives, a cause that is quite personal for Barker. A favorite uncle died of prostate cancer about eight years ago, and a close family friend died in 2010.
Last year Barker and four friends raised nearly $5,000 during Movember, so far this year they’ve raised $900, with a few weeks to go. Is it harder to raise money now that the Movember market is saturated? It seems that about one in three guys are growing a moustache right now. Barker doesn’t care about that. He’s just happy that each moustache around town increases awareness of men’s health issues. He also likes that it’s a grassroots movement that has really taken off.
Lots of guys hate having the moustache all month. Apparently its very itchy to have that small bit of hair above your lip. I’ve also heard men complain that it aged them because it grew in grey. Barker doesn’t mind though. “I’m lucky,” he says of his small blonde moustache. “Mine really isn’t much. In some lights you can’t even see it.” He turns toward the light and the moustache vanishes. He points out that his ability to grow facial hair is comparable to a 14-year-old boy.
Does his fiancée like the moustache? Barker thinks she’s lukewarm, but adds, “I threatened to carry it over to “Decembeard” and she said she’d have to put her foot down.” I suspect it will be long gone when they get married next June.
Maggie Welt is a new freelance writer based in Toronto. She is a wife, and mother of two small kids.
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[…] Jeremy Barker is a well put together young man. He obviously takes his time getting dressed, and he doesn’t mind you knowing it. He also has a small, very tidy moustache. Turns out it’s for Movember. […]