Article from the New Paltz Times

NEW PALTZ, N.Y. – The State University of New York at New Paltz baseball team showed its support in the fight against prostate and testicular cancer during the month of November by participating in “Movember,” a monthlong initiative of growing mustaches in promotion of men's health.

“Movember” derives its name from the slang word of “mo” for mustache and the month of November, which is the month for prostate and testicular cancer awareness. According to the official website of “Movember,” “the mustache becomes the ribbon for men's health, the means by which awareness and funds are raised for cancers that affect men.”

Men must start the month clean-shaven and let their upper-lip hair grow throughout the month.

“Movember” began in 2003 when a group of friends in Melbourne, Australia, wanted to bring back the mustache as a joke and do something for men's health in the process. While no funds were raised in 2003, they raised awareness by sparking up conversations about men's health, which were brought about by the mustache. In 2004, the "Mo Bros" turned their attention to the No. 1 cancer affecting men: prostate cancer. A total of 432 people participated that year, and they raised $55,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia, which was the largest single donation that the organization had ever received.

During the 2010 edition of “Movember,” 64,500 people from the United States participated, while 450,000 people worldwide partook. Both totals shatter all of the former records. In addition, the global fundraising figure is also expected to exceed the largest amount ever raised in a single campaign.

All U.S. funds raised go toward the Prostate Cancer Foundation (PCF) and LIVESTRONG, the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

This marks the second year of participation from the New Paltz baseball team. Assistant coach Jesse Marsh learned about the movement from a friend last year, and the baseball program implemented the awareness and fundraising effort during the 2009 “Movember” campaign.

“I am proud of the guys for another successful year in the 'Movemeber' campaign,” head coach Matt Griffiths said. “Prostate cancer affects many, and I hope that our small part can help to raise awareness to such an important issue. We look forward to continuing to find ways for the program to serve a positive role in our community and beyond.”