Thanksgiving is the perfect opportunity to gather with those you love and start conversations about issues that matter

Thanksgiving is about being grateful for your family, friends, and the blessings in your life. But as you get ready to head home and dreaming of turkey legs and stuffing, you may start to wonder, “Is there room at the table for my Mo this Thanksgiving?” It’s like introducing someone new to the family - you should be prepared with answers for the typical questions. How long have you guys been together? What attracted you to each other? How serious is this (you brought your Mo to Thanksgiving after all)?
 
We’re here to help you start conversations that truly count this Thanksgiving, and make sure there are no lingering tensions between your relatives and your facial hair. Let them know why you Mo, and why they ought to get behind the cause as well.
 

Give them the scoop

Make sure they understand what Movember is all about. The Movember Foundation is the leading global organization committed to changing the face of men’s health. The Movember community has raised over $650 million to date and funded over 1,000 men’s health programs in 21 countries.
 

Hit ‘em with the stats

There are countless reasons to Mo, and a number of important stats and men’s health issues that most family members might not even be aware of.
 

• The average life expectancy for men in the United States is almost 5 years less than women. 
   
• 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. 
   
• Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States (second only to skin cancer)
   
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men aged 15-34 years.
   
• Around 15 million American adults (6.7% of the population) are diagnosed with depression each year. 
   
• More than four times as many men than women die by suicide in the United States.
   
• Around 510,000 men die from suicide globally each year—that’s one every minute.
   
• Physical activity can reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes and cancer by up to 50% and lower your risk of early death by up to 30%. 
   
• Making a MOVE can improve your general well-being and mental wellness; not to mention, it can combat fatigue, aches and pains, anxiety and depression.

Drive it Home
 

When everyone is together during the holidays, it’s the perfect time to talk about the health history of your family. You can’t change your genetics, but you can make healthy choices to limit their effects. Encourage your folks to be proactive and talk to their doctors. Let your siblings know you’ll be there for them when they need to open up about things that are bothering them. And above all, give thanks for what you got.
By the end of Thanksgiving hopefully everyone will be so inspired by your commitment to Movember that they will contribute to your Mo Space page. Make sure you have your Mo Space link handy so they donate online (tell them to use Visa Checkout so their donation will be doubled!). If grandma only has checks, that’s cool— see how to submit them.