As November begins, so does the infamous No-Shave November challenge of refraining from shaving for the whole month. As much as people participate in this event, few know the history behind it.
The tradition started when a man named Matthew Hill, unfortunately, passed away from colon cancer in 2007. The Hill family then decided to start a Facebook campaign in 2009 to spread awareness about cancer and to try and further cancer charities and research. The official No-Shave November organization was founded in 2009 as a way to help this campaign against cancer. According to the website (https://no-shave.org), the goal of No-Shave November is “to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free.”
In order to participate in No-Shave November, men usually let the beard grow out and see how long and furry it can get.
“I feel barbaric when I don’t shave constantly, but I like the cause of No-Shave November,” junior Andrew Patton said.
The main goal is to grow more facial hair than you would normally have. It’s a way to appreciate your hair and a good way to support cancer patients.
“I can’t grow much, but I’m still down to participate in No-Shave November, ” senior Blake Rosnes said.
People can post their facial hair on various social media with the hashtags #LetItGrow or #NoShaveNovember.
“I don’t really like not shaving but I might make an exception this month just because of No-Shave November,” junior Jackson Sutton stated
The organization has raised up to $10 million since it began. In 2013, the No-Shave November Foundation partnered with the American Cancer Society to raise about $3.5 million to help with cancer research. The foundation also works with St. Jude’s Prevent Cancer Foundation, and Fight Colorectal Cancer. A similar event happens in Melbourne, Australia called the Movember Foundation which is a mix of mustache and November. It was founded in 2003 and targets growing mustaches for prostate cancer awareness.
Even if you don’t want to participate in No-Shave November, you can still support it by donating to the various cancer foundations listed above to help those affected.