On November 1st, the guys of Union Wine Co. proudly joined the Movember movement, shaving one final time to create clean slates for the mustaches they will grow during the month. The ceremonial shave even included JP, our winemaker, who gave up his cultivated 10 year beard for the cause, with some determined help from the crew.

The Movember Foundation is a nationwide campaign that helps raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues; specifically prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health. The lack of understanding on the health issues men face is alarming:

• The average life expectancy of men is five years less than women.
• 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime.
• Men are 24 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the last year.

There are lots of complicated and sometimes controversial reasons why men’s health is in a relatively poor state; to change this, The Movember Foundation encourages men to grow a mustache throughout the month of November. Using the mustache as a catalyst, the idea is to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to learn and talk about their health and take action when needed.

By the end of the month, the guys will all be sporting mustaches, some more impressive than others. Join us in learning more about men’s health by visiting The Movember Movement and NAMI by following us as we document their bristly progress on our blog and social media. Feel free to visit our donation page and help us make a difference.