Each November for the last three years the brothers of chapter Theta Xi, Delta Tau Delta Fraternity at Eastern Michigan University have been helping to raise awareness for men’s health by taking an active role in the Movember campaign, where participants grow mustaches.
Brothers (top) Josh Lelonek, Nick Rote, John Fenton, (bottom) Tony DeNardis, Ben Freund and Ed Niepoth wearing last Movembers mustaches.
This year Delta Tau Delta will be bringing the November tradition back and bigger than ever. Some have begun cultivating their awesome and manly upper lip hair already, while officially the growth does not have to begin until 1 November. Starting that day the brothers will not shave their mustaches off until 1 Decemeber and will host a number of events aimed at raising awareness and money for men’s health.
The Movember movement focuses primarily on prostate cancer and other forms of cancer which affect the health of men. Partnering with the Livestrong Foundation and the Prostate Cancer Foundation, Movember is one of the leading actors in the struggle to eliminate these health issues. Chapter Theta Xi decided to team up with Movember after their own philanthropy Bleed Purple was absorbed by Livestrong. Vice President Josh Klemm believes that, “Movember is something all fraternity men should be able to get behind. It’s about our health as men and the health of men all over the world.”
Each year the campaign grows in size and in the amount of money raised for the research and development of a cure. Klemm is hopeful that the same thing will be true at Eastern’s campus this year, stating that the fraternity has, “had fairly consistent turn outs and fundraisers for Movember over the last few years, but this year we want huge results.”
“Together, with the help of the EMU and Ypsilanti communities, I suspect that this year could be an improvement on earlier attempts.” Klemm added. He also points out that the issue never seems to, “get major publicity like breast cancer awareness month does in October. Movember is an attempt to correct this.”
The fraternity will raise money all month on campus, at their house (125 N. Normal), and by reaching out to family, friends and community members. A gala party at the end of the month brings everyone together to show off their mustaches and to announce the total raised. Costumes are encouraged and MoSistas (women supporters) are invited to participate. The gala touts several mustache contests including; Best Stache, Best Costume, Best MoBro and MoSista Pair amongst other things.
This year the brothers will be raising money on campus and in Ypsilanti through a variety of activities including selling mustaches to women. In Klemm’s words these fake staches will, “show that they love balls as much as we love boobs.”
Future updates will follow the brothers of Delta Tau Delta as Movember progresses.
