Instructor of industrial technology Anthony Blakeney has issued a challenge to all students, faculty and staff to man up for “Movember,” a month to raise awareness of men’s health issues.  
“One of my colleagues, Mr. Lawrence Mauerman, is a survivor of prostate cancer and several other guys in our department have survived various forms of cancer,” said Blakeney. “I noticed that he had this big bushy mustache, and I had no idea November is men’s cancer awareness month. We call it Movember.”
According to Blakeney, “Movember” is similar to “No-Shave November,” but with a twist. Male advocates of men’s cancer awareness shave their faces completely on Nov. 1, and then spend the rest of the month growing only mustaches. Blakeney also said females are also encouraged to participate as well by wearing fake mustaches. Aside from working with cancer survivors in his department, Blakeney has been personally touched by the disease.
“I’ve lost a few members of my family to several forms of cancer,” he said. “My brother died at the age of 28 from skin cancer. The day after my brother’s funeral I had three spots removed from my body, so it’s hit me hard. When I find something like this, I try to get involved.”
October is widely recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which can also affect men, but Blakeney feels male health issues like prostate or testicular cancer can often be overlooked.
“It’s important for us too because so many men are afraid to be examined,” he said. “When they turn 40 years old, nobody wants to go through a prostate exam. I don’t know if it’s pride or if we’re scared, but if we can do something to save one man, that’s all we need to do.”
Blakeney hopes that by grabbing interest with striking styles of facial hair, he and his student can direct people to a fundraiser for campus research.
“You go to Movember.com and search my name and it will come to my homepage,” he said. “There’s a link where you can make a donation to the American Cancer Society to support research for these specific types of cancer.”
Blakeney said that his challenge is extended to the highest offices on campus, even the President’s.
“I challenge the top administrators on this campus, the president, the deans and all of them that are men, to grow mustaches for this cause,” said Blakeny. “I would love to see Dr. Crain with a mustache; besides being awesome, his support would be greatly appreciated.”
For more information and examples of different mustache styles, visit www.movember.com.