Throughout the month of November, male Southern Lehigh High School teachers and faculty members grew out mustaches in support of Movember, a global movement dedicated towards promoting men’s health. The Solehi mustache challenge began on November 7, and participants were not allowed to shave until after November 23.

“Other than the ritualistic side of [Movember,] it is a nice way to raise money for people in need around the holidays for a good cause, whatever that cause may be for that particular year,” science teacher and Movember participant Mr. Erik Steiner said.

Emotional support teacher Mr. Matt Miller organized the campaign.

“Just seeing the other faculty members grow a mustache is funny,” Mr. Miller said. “I do like when my mustache gets big enough that I can start using it in some way. I have gotten quite a few comments on a ‘good cookie duster.’”

Throughout the month, students and staff members donated money to vote for their favorite mustache. Teachers also had the option to donate to take part in casual days. All of the funds raised were donated to Betty Lou’s Pantry, a non-profit organization in Coopersburg that collects and distributes food to community members in need. Collectively, Southern Lehigh High School raised $846.25.

“[Charity events] raise your awareness on what’s happening locally,” Mr. Miller said. “For example, with Betty’s Lou’s Pantry, a lot of people might not realize that there are a number of people, even in our own community, that have needs.”

The tradition of Movember extends far beyond Southern Lehigh’s campus and is associated with an international non-profit organization of the same name. The group raises money and works with other programs around the world to bring awareness to men’s health, especially in the areas of prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.

“The state of men’s health is in crisis. Men experience worse longer-term health than women and die on average six years earlier,” according to the Movember website. “Prostate cancer rates will double in the next 15 years. Testicular cancer rates have already doubled in the last 50. Three quarters of suicides are men. Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute.”

The Movember organization began in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, as a challenge among 30 men to bring the mustache back into style. After discovering the power that the mustache had to gain people’s attention and inspire conversation, they decided to turn it into a bigger movement. Today, Movember includes over 24 countries and boasts over five million participants.

“Movember is really about men’s health, such as checking for prostate cancer or regular checkups and going to the doctor,” social studies teacher and Movember participant Mr. Thomas Beaupre said. “For for me that’s what Movember is really all about: for men not to always have to be the ‘tough guys,’ to take care of themselves, so they can be there for their families and others.”

Twenty-two teachers participated in the challenge. Joining Mr. Miller, Mr. Steiner and Mr. Beaupre were science teachers Mr. David Dougherty and Mr. David Long; English teachers Mr. Michael Fay, Mr. Joseph Castagna, and Mr. Jeffrey Hershey; social studies teachers Mr. David Krial, Mr. Brian Dow, and Mr. Troy Ruch; physical education teachers Mr. Brenton Ditchcreek, Mr. Andrew Green, Mr. Stephen Schrader and Mr. Matthew Hummel; math teacher Mr. Bradley Siesko; learning support teacher Mr. Anthony Italiani; instructional assistants Mr. Kenneth Wied and Mr. Mark Evans; technology coach Mr. Joseph Breisch; music teacher Mr. Larry Fisher; and assistant principal Mr. Thomas Ruhf.