Xích-Vê’s story: Mo Sisters unite

I joined Movember back in 2013. The first few years, I fundraised at my workplace, and even created an annual client event around Movember. My main motivation was simple: having fun, doing good. It still is.

However, as the time went by, I think it became a ritual for me. An annual reminder that men's health is important for me. For all of us.

I Mo for my husband, my son, my cousins, my uncles, my friends.

I Mo for the men around me.

As a daughter, sister, wife, mother, niece, cousin, I can see that the men around me are not all comfortable with speaking about their physical health or mental health.I can also say that it has not been easy for me either to talk about it with certain people around me.

So, if by wearing (drawing) a Mo on my upper lip for the 30 days of Movember, I can raise eyebrows and start conversations about Movember and how it can change the face of men's health, then I will continue to do so. Not to mention that I have a lot of fun doing this.

As a Mo Sister, I hope to be able to start simpler and more casual conversations about men's health with my entourage, and conversations that matters to the stage of their life they're in.

For example, I think that mental health and suicide prevention is a lifelong conversation I can have with my immediate entourage, from all genders, at any time during our lives; I hope to talk about testicular cancer with my son and his friends. prostate cancer is something I can talk about with my husband and our friends who are reaching their 50's or who are from Caribbean descent.

This past year was the first time I fundraised while also working with Movember during campaign as an “oppie” (operational campaign support team). The Movember family unlocked many personal emotional barriers, specifically when it came to mental health and suicide prevention. It made me acknowledge my own emotional limits and reflect on my past behaviours and/or attitudes when confronted with mental health in my own family. It kind of set me on a new personal journey. It also gave me the courage and the confidence to approach the suicide theme conversations with my own family as well as my students.

As a 10-year Mo Sister I’ve seen the impact of Movember in many ways. I've seen it at home. At the family dinner table. How we freely talk about mental health, suicide prevention, prostate cancer and testicular cancer. My 16-year-old son, who has seen me with a moustache since he is 6, would be comfortable having me come to his class to deliver a health talk to his classmates, with my Mo on! He is even considering shaving his very first Mo for next Movember.

I've seen it with my husband who gets more comfortable expressing his sadness and feels ok to shed tears when the emotions flow.

I've seen it in my kitchen when talking to my Mo Team, when new team members joined this year. I organized a pizza night to launch the campaign, and it was so heartwarming to see the men around my kitchen counter talk about their struggles, ask questions, and simply having a good time, together.

I've seen it when running races with my Mo on and people coming to me sharing their stories.

I've seen it when biking with my Mo on and people honking and hailing to the Mo Power in the streets.

I've seen it at the bakery when people congratulate me for my Movember Mo.

I even met a prostate cancer survivor one day who benefited from Movember programs. It was very special to hug this person.

All these little actions will hopefully spark a thought in people's mind and help Movember in its quest to change the face of men's health. What’s my message to other Mo Sisters? Mo with your heart, the rest will flow.