During Movember (the month formerly known as November) I will be growing a moustache to support the fight against prostate cancer. This is part of an annual international fundraising effort run by Movember.com in partnership with the Prostate Cancer Foundation and the Lance Armstrong Foundation. I took a year off in 2008 but had a lot of fun with this in 2007.

A few facts:

• Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting 1 in 6 men. In fact, a man is 35% more likely to be diagnosed with prostate cancer than a woman is to be diagnosed with breast cancer. 
• In 2009, more than 192,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 27,000 American men will die from the disease.
• One new case occurs every 2.7 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes.
• When caught and treated early enough, prostate cancer has a cure rate of over 90%.  Several individuals close to me are alive today because of treatments that are the result of prostate cancer research.

But there is much more to be done.

• With your help, we will figure out why so many men get prostate cancer, and why it is far more life threatening to some men than others.
• With your help, we will be able to continue supporting and encouraging scientists who are striving to reduce the time it takes to complete a clinical trial and win regulatory approval for new prostate cancer treatments—a vital step that will speed new prostate cancer drugs to patients in need today.
• With your help, we will be able to make a quantum leap forward in the fight against this disease. But it’s only possible with enough funding. That’s why your support is so important—and why we need your contribution to help researchers forge ahead in their quest for better treatments and a cure.
• See http://www.prostatecancerfoundation.org for more information.

Two Ways to Donate:

1. Web: To sponsor my Mo (moustache) and fight against prostate cancer please go to http://us.movember.com/mospace/47495, click on the ‘Donate to Me’ button and follow the instructions.

2. Cash: You can give me your donation in cash and I will remit it.  However, this method will not result in a tax deduction for you.

All donations are made directly to the Prostate Cancer Foundation which will use the funds for high-impact research to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer and the Lance Armstrong Foundation to support its mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. Both foundations are 501(c)(3) organizations. All donations are tax-deductible to the full extent permitted by law.

 

Special SAP Project Offer

I am seeking donations from all my SAP Project colleagues to support prostate cancer research AND determine how long I will continue to sport this growth.  Historically, there have been two camps of opinion regarding my Movember moustache: Those that Love It and those that Hate It.

So, let’s make this interesting.  I make the following offer: The camp that donates the most money by November 30 can determine whether I keep this moustache until the New Year.

If you donate using the movember.com website, include text in the comment to indicate whether you are a Mo-Lover or Mo-Hater.  If you give me cash, I’ll ask you your preference. The winning team will be the one that donates the most money. I will keep track of the tally and announce the winning team on December 17.

If you do not specify whether you are a Mo-Lover or a Mo-Hater then I will apply half of your donation to each.

Even if you don’t work with me on an SAP project feel free to donate as either a Mo-Lover or a Mo-Hater  - you can influence the outcome just the same as these computer folks.