A few years back, I was invited to join the Movember Digital Challenge – led by Canadian social media maverick Sean Moffitt, and Movember co-founder Adam Garone – as the Montreal chapter’s captain. Our mission was simple: to create a buzz and raise awareness/money on the digital networks for the fight against prostate cancer. The initiative was a smashing success: Movember YUL – the Montreal chapter – recruited over 30 web marketing and social media agencies, a few public figures/celebrities such as Justin Trudeau and fashion trend setters Three Monkeys, and raised over $169,000 as a network. It was 2010, and the last year I participated in the fundraiser.
Movember has now become the gold standard for fundraising campaigns. It succeeded where other fundraisers have failed: it tapped into a younger demographic and the essence of cool. Hipsters love a good moustache. After an extremely successful year, I retired from my Movember efforts to pursue issues closer to my heart. Though prostate cancer is a noble cause, raising awareness around mental health issues resonated with me on a much deeper level. This doesn’t mean, however, that I can’t be an armchair campaigner. Therefore, I shall join the illustrious ranks of Movember Bloggers.
Introducing Bloggers for Movember, my latest brainchild: an online campaign to raise awareness for the fight against prostate cancer, and a few dollars for Movember. Why a sudden return among the ranks of other fellow Mo Bros and Mo Sistas? Not only does Movember raise awareness on prostate cancer issues, the fundraiser also “aims to reduce stigma, increase awareness and understanding of male mental health issues1“, including suicide and clinical depression. What are my goals? I want to gather writers from all blogging walks of life – WordPress, Blogger, and Tumblr, and raise awareness by:
- Writing posts during the month of Movember: an inspirational story about cancer, a story about destigmatizing mental health issues, a post showing your support to the cause, or;
- Joining other Mo Bros and Mo Sistas by either growing a moustache, or encouraging men around you to grow a moustache for one month, or;
- Posting pictures of your moustache, past or present, in a post, or;
- Making a donation to Bloggers for Movember, or;
- Adding this badge to your blog, as a show of support:
Every post written and every picture posted will be shared on our Facebook page, Bloggers for Movember. Now if you need an extra push, how’s this: I have contacted Adam Garone and Sean Moffitt, and they gave us their blessings for the initiative. Sean has already joined the Facebook page, and Adam will soon follow… How’s that for visibility? There will also be prizes to win, goodies to give away, and a few very special treats… very special treats indeed. I will posts all the details on October 29.
I will not be doing this alone: Mo Sistas Emily from The Waiting, Becca from 25ToFly, Christine from Misslisted, Roller Giraffe and Madame Weebles will be presiding over the festivities with me… This will be a blast! Registration is now open… Tell me, bloggers and readers, who’s with us? Questions? Ask!
1Movember: Programs we fund.
Nice to “meet” a fellow Canadian! My mom died of cancer at 48; my dad and ex-father-in-law both survived prostate cancer, and my step-mom and aunt have both survived cancer as well. And I’m close to two men who have clinical depression.
I usually try to avoid writing about serious topics, but I’ll do this one. Count me in for a good cause.
Posted by Diane Henders | October 10, 2012, 22:39Diane,
Welcome on A Clown on Fire, fellow Canadian. Where are you from? My condolences for your father. Truly. But happy to read you are surrounded with cancer survivors as well. And thank you for joining Bloggers for Movember. I’m overwhelmed with the amazing response we are getting.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 11, 2012, 10:08I hope you’ll forgive me for being from Calgary. Contrary to popular belief, we’re not all redneck haters of the east out here. If it helps, I grew up in Manitoba…
Posted by Diane Henders | October 11, 2012, 10:16Diane,
Canada is a beautiful country. I am proud to be from Montreal, and Quebec, and I think there’s good people – and asswipes – pretty much everywhere… My friend Roller Giraffe is from your neck of the woods, and she was just Freshly Pressed yesterday. You should give her a try!
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 11, 2012, 10:17I will – thanks for the heads-up! And congrats on the success of your Movember campaign.
Posted by Diane Henders | October 11, 2012, 10:25I used the badge on my blog.
My father died of lung cancer one year ago, but as much as I have seen during that period, almost all cancer types are aggressive enough to cause a lot of pain and depression
I’m not sure if I have the guts, clarity of thoughts and objectivity to write a post on this topic – yet – , but I shall surely try to do it these days.
Posted by mmkng | October 11, 2012, 04:33MMKG,
Truly sorry for your loss, and I understand completely where you stand. My sincere condolences. And just this comment brings awareness in itself. So thank you.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 11, 2012, 10:02Congrats Le Clown …. better yet … for also delivering an important message.
Posted by aFrankAngle | October 11, 2012, 06:42Frank,
Mental health issues have had such an impact in my life, I’m happy to be doing what I can to raise awareness, and funds, and FUN into it. And BTW, thank you for being this present on this blog for the past few weeks. I am quite honoured, Frank.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 11, 2012, 09:47Believe me, the honor is all mine as you are The Legend!
Posted by aFrankAngle | October 11, 2012, 09:49feckin’ bombshell awesome! and congrats on the fp. it went to page 2 far too fast for my liking though. i wonder how they determine that or if it’s all random. regardless, i loved this piece before the fp and i’m still lovin’ it after… xo
Posted by sweetmother | October 11, 2012, 13:16SM,
Thank you, my friend… They have to make space for new Freshly Pressed posts, of course… Like Sara’s post on Black Box Warnings!
http://blackboxwarnings.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/defining-crazy/
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 11, 2012, 13:24a how feckin’ awesome. a double feature in a sense… going to read it now! xo, sm
Posted by sweetmother | October 11, 2012, 13:36I may be wrong here… but isn’t it possible to actually set up your blog to set up donations for charity? Oh, and what a great cause. It’s becoming far too common and hitting younger and younger….
Posted by Love and Lunchmeat | October 11, 2012, 20:39L&L,
It is possible when you are using a paid version of WordPress. They have many plugins for donations. But none when you’re using the free version. To my knowledge…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 12, 2012, 07:38I will be joining in for sure!
Posted by casualloop | October 12, 2012, 07:36Casual Loop,
My apologies for being late greeting you and thanking you: welcome and thank you?
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:37ahhh movember. one of my buddies grew a hulk hogan stach!! montrealers take movember pretty seriously.
Posted by littlecitybot | October 12, 2012, 09:43Little Citybot,
We do indeed! I kept my ‘stache a full year after Movember 2010. My wife was thrilled. She still talks about it: 2010 – The Year I Didn’t Kiss My Husband.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 12, 2012, 09:45i’ve been guilty of the “oh man, i guess you’re growing that ridiculous mustache for movember eh?” “no, actually this is just my normal mustache” “oh…” conversation. it’s hard to tell! there are so many mustached people in this city!
Posted by littlecitybot | October 12, 2012, 09:48Emma,
You’re a fellow Montrealer! How nice to meet you on the blogosphere… And you’re so damn right abot ‘staches: we do love our hipsters, said the clown who’s having a coffee in Mile End.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 12, 2012, 09:52Thank you for liking my post; it gave me the chance to come here and read this. I have always been a strong advocate for cancer research partly because I had four aunts who died far too young of cancer. Much of my artwork has been used to raise funds for this cause and others.
Some years ago I was asked to create a painting for a Relay for Life for The American Cancer Society in this small town. It was to be used as a logo for the relay and printed on tea shirts, stationary, publicity, etc. I publicly asked residents of the town to send me photographs of their hands and received hundreds. I pined them up on a board and studied them for weeks, then a n idea finally came.
The painting helped to raise 69,000.00 for the cause from this small town and also from nearby Tallahassee, FL . Now I know that this is a special kind of cancer but all victims of all kinds of cancer share the need. I would be happy to make this image available for you to use to raise funds for this cause. The image is on my blog archived under uncategorized . The title of the painting ls ” Hands Together” and that is also the name of the post. Take a look and let me know how I can help!
Posted by artzent | October 12, 2012, 13:48So, I leave on a business trip and you and Sara both get Freshly Pressed! Methinks I’m some sort of Freshly Pressed good luck charm…working in reverse. I’ll make sure to go away more often!
I want to participate in this in any way I can. I’ve put a note out to a couple friends of mine, and hope to get them on board too.
You’re so freaking cool.
Posted by Jen and Tonic | October 12, 2012, 21:02finally figure out how to ad the badge picture thing to my blog.
Posted by rich | October 16, 2012, 13:43Rich,
Thank you, friend.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:36my pleasure to help and pass the word.
Posted by rich | October 21, 2012, 21:37I’ve written about my child who had cancer, my husband who participated in Movember a few years back and who is now recovering from a brain injury – I’ll have no problem posting some links!
Posted by Margie | October 17, 2012, 22:04Margie,
It would be very nice of you. Thank you.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 17, 2012, 22:07Le Clown,
A while ago, you told me something like
“Real heroes are peeps like you,
but who do it without bragging about it.
Seriously, props to you, friend.”
Now that the squirting flower is on the other lapel, I’m proud to squirt the comment back in your face. Count me in, my friend. I may go all “Bill Nye the science guy” though. Complete with bowtie and lab coat.
Posted by Anansi the Poet | October 17, 2012, 22:34Anansi,
You sure know how to flatter a clown… Le Clown feels all warm and fuzzy.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:35Both great causes I read about your post on Carries Blog this morning. I will give this some thought about how I can be of help.
Posted by starlaschat | October 18, 2012, 15:39Starlaschat,
So, thoughts given? Not that I am a bugger, or anything…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:33A bugger clown :+) I’ve been mulling it around still not sure. I was thinking of writing a postive cancer story wasn’t that one of the options. Or maybe I’ll put the Movemer badge on my blog.. I let you know soon
Posted by starlaschat | October 22, 2012, 09:47Sorry about that I didn’t mean to call you bugger. Anyway I’m shooting for next Monday to add the Movember badge to Mondays post.
Posted by starlaschat | October 22, 2012, 15:12Starlaschat,
You didn’t mean to call me bugger? Now I’m disappointed… No one had ever call me a bugger before. This was a first. I was going to tell everyone…
Please take it back!! Le Clown IS a bugger. Say it is so.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 22, 2012, 17:29Calling you a bugger was actially an accident so I can’t really claim it. So your still bugger free. :+)
I tried to write a post for yesterday, but my words kept get tangled. We recently lost my husbands father to cancer so I guess the emotions are still difficult. I find it hard to write about cancer for now. But I’m happy to put the badge on my blog. I also think it’s great that you added Mens mental health issue to bring awarness to that subject as well. Thank You for bringing Movember to my attention.
Posted by starlaschat | October 30, 2012, 11:49StarlasChat,
I understand. If you do change your mind, and would like to write something for Bloggers for Movember, just let us know.
And thank you for wearing the badge!
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 31, 2012, 07:20It’s a noble cause and I’d like to participate…with my limited POV on the subject. Hope it helps. Nikki
Posted by i mayfly | October 19, 2012, 16:48Nikki,
Of course it helps. The more awareness we raise, the more we fight the stigma associated with mental illness, and also a better understanding of prostate cancer.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:32I will post a pic with a mustache I have one of me and my sister together with one lol. I don’t know a lot about the subjects but can try to do some research and write something. I have lost a lot of family and friends to different types of cancer and struggle with depression myself. I know how hard it is for women who fight depression and the way people treat you I can’t imagain being a man with it. My friends brother killed himself a year or so ago struggling with it.
Posted by A Single Parent's Life | October 19, 2012, 20:22A Single Parent’s Life,
Apologies for being this late at answering your comment. You and your loves ones have gone through many ordeals, I am truly sorry. I am happy to have yuo with us on this, and let me know how I can help.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:31Posted today with links to you to help spread the word.
Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | October 19, 2012, 21:03PMOTE,
Thank you, it was a great post.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:27Despite what some feel, emotion is how people connect. If you can get a person to project themselves/identify with something, they usually get on board. (Any marketing/sales person knows this)
You can lecture and write scientific explanations all you want, but people will snoooooze. Everyone loves a story.
This is a great cause. Appreciate your efforts and we’ll all kick start this project.
Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | October 21, 2012, 19:18PMOTE,
I wouldn’t take some comments too personal… I know where yours stem from. If I can suggest anything, let some slide by, and concentrate on the positive. I personally think you’ve written something touching. And I thank you for your involvement. I’m sure we’ll see each other more during the next month.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 19:20Oh, I know, don’t worry. Some just spins off into the ozone periodically.
Posted by philosophermouseofthehedge | October 21, 2012, 22:00Le Clown, can I get the badge? How do I add it to my blog?
Posted by ryan | October 21, 2012, 18:21Ryan,
By all means. Access your own Dashboard and:
1. Click on Appearance, then on Widget;
2. In the “Available Widgets” window, drag “Image” in the “Main Sidebar” on the right of the screen;
3. In the “Image” widget window, in the “Image URL” field, cut and paste: “http://clownonfire.files.wordpress.com/2012/10/bloggers3.jpg”;
4. Click on SAVE.
That will do it for the time being. Let me know if all goes well…
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 21, 2012, 18:27Cheers. All did indeed go well.
Posted by ryan | October 21, 2012, 18:49I’m not going to grow a moustache, because I’m not blessed with thick, dark hair but rather odd, blonde/silverish beardhair – AND I WILL NOT BE MADE FUN OFF!
I always thought Wolverine was my real father.
On a serious note: I definitely participate in this, I have been blogging about my mental health issues for over a year now and have been making great progress in overcoming Neurotic Depression (or Dysthymia). I published a post on this today and would really like to raise awareness about Dysthymia as it is often underrated (even on Wikipedia) and often misdiagnosed. So it would be awesome if you guys were willing to help me out.
Can I submit my current post? Or would you like me to publish a new in November/Movember?
Kind regards,
Daan van den Bergh
Posted by Daan van den Bergh | October 23, 2012, 14:13Daan,
I think the post you have written today would be perfect. Le me go read it. And thank you for helping raising awareness and fighting the stigma around mental health issues.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 23, 2012, 19:00Okay dude, so Movember is on at LBHQ; the saga of the stache begins: http://liquorstorebear.com/2012/10/22/lost-souls-chocolate-pumpkin-porter-what-would-you-sell-for-it/
Posted by liquorstorebear | October 24, 2012, 00:32Bear,
I received the notification yesterday, and we even shared your post on our Facebook page, but! I cannot access your blog from work… Can you believe that? Yours is one of the rare ones that is blocked because of its content. Yup. I can only congratulate you, my fellow Canadian blogger.
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 24, 2012, 07:58Good grief, that happened to my dad at work too. Maybe my site needs some clean-up
Posted by liquorstorebear | October 24, 2012, 11:45Count me in; a friend linked your blog on hers, and suggested I take a look. Glad I took the advice. I can’t guarantee I’d be able to grow a moustache (or that what I grow doesn’t get waxed off, all girly-like) but I’m always up for raising awareness surrounding mental health.
You’re doing a great thing, good luck with it all!
Posted by halfwaybetweenT | October 24, 2012, 16:26I love this. So much. I wish someone would champion this idea for rare diseases…heck. I’d start it if I even KNEW where to begin.
Posted by hopeforheather | October 27, 2012, 20:51Since I am broke and female donations and mustaches are out. But I’d love to write a post about the struggles and triumphs my ex-husband experienced as a kid growing up with ADHD and dyslexia if that would be alright. He’s my ex but he is actually quite an amazing guy and still one of my very best friends.
Posted by H.E. ELLIS | October 30, 2012, 11:36H.E. Ellis,
I would love you to help Bloggers for Movember this way. Would you consider writing it on my serious blog, Black Box Warnings, which has been conceived around the AD(H)D topic? http://blackboxwarnings.wordpress.com/
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 30, 2012, 11:43Absolutely! I’ll get working on it today.
Posted by H.E. ELLIS | October 30, 2012, 11:44H.E.Ellis,
Ok. I will send you an invitation for BBW. Is there an email address I can send the link to you? Also, it would be for November 12. Is that OK for you?
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 30, 2012, 11:46Yes, my email is heellisgoa (at) gmail (dot) com
November 12th is perfect. I can’t wait.
Posted by H.E. ELLIS | October 30, 2012, 11:50HE Ellis,
Thank you for doing this!
Le Clown
Posted by Le Clown | October 31, 2012, 07:19I have written a post back in July telling my sons story so far dealing with Autism and aspergers. He just turned 7 in September and it is just about out fight to get him dignosed and the help he needed and how far he has come in the last 5 years. I started out to write a post about his dad and the things that I see in the two of them and the problems he has dealing and copping in life. His father was never dignosed but had learning problems and had a lot of help in school. We have talked about it in the past and he feels he has the same kinds of problems as our son. I am trying to get him to go somewhere and let them dignose him and maybe get a little more help if it is out there. But it’s hard as we are not together anymore and I really feel that this is part of the reason. I have a picture to post also. I thought I would do a 2 or 3 day thing and post something different each day and post them on my blog and tell about Movember and why I am doing it. Wanted to make sure if this is the kinds of things you are looking for that they are talking about. bringing awareness too. It is all mental health problems but wasn’t sure if it is along the lines of what you are thinking. Love to have your input. thanks
Posted by A Single Parent's Life | November 2, 2012, 10:45