Supporting Movember

For the month of Movember (the month formerly known as November), over 130 men from Severn Trent Water (some of whom are pictured), in all of its regional offices, sported moustaches, much to the amusement of their colleagues.

Movember is about bringing back the moustache (‘mo’), having fun and doing good to change the face of men’s health, specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. ‘Mo Bros’ take action by changing their appearance through the growth of a new moustache for the 30 days of ‘Movember’, and in doing so become walking, talking billboards for men’s health.

Mike Gilpin, project manager from Severn Trent Water, said: “I’ve had mates who’ve had testicular cancer and I’ve seen them go though it, so it’s nice to be able to do something positive about it. The ‘tache’ is a great conversation starter to raising awareness.”

Anthony Ault, analyst at the company, added: “It’s itchy and uncomfortable but it’s great to be raising awareness of ‘male’ specific cancer. In the past it’s been humiliating for a month and you get a lot of funny looks but it’s been much better this year as more people know what Movember’s all about.”

To end Movember in style, the company organised ‘The Big Shave Off’ with a traditional barber at their Coventry office to rid the men of their ‘mo’s.

The money raised will go towards the Movember Foundation, which is the leading global organisation committed to changing the face of men’s health. Since 2003 the Movember community has raised over £345 million and has funded more than 800 programmes, in 21 countries. This work is saving and improving the lives of men affected by prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health problems.