If you have seen an increase in facial hair recently, that can be accredited to the “No Shave November” campaign. Every year, men all around the world put down their razors and grow beards and mustaches to raise awareness for men’s health issues, such as prostate and testicular cancer.

    This tradition can be traced back to Melbourne, Australia 18 years ago, when three guys came up with the idea when they wanted to find a way to help out with men’s health issues.

    This cause is extremely pertinent in the United States, more so than many people probably realize. 14.3% of men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. To put it into perspective, that means roughly one out of every seven American males suffer from this horrible cancer. While testicular cancer isn’t nearly as common, 7% of all cases occur in children and teenagers.

    According to the organization’s website, “No-Shave November is a web-based, non-profit organization devoted to growing cancer awareness and raising funds to support cancer prevention, research, and education.”

    Some who participate in No Shave November, raise money to donate to men’s health related causes while they grow out their facial hair, or they just grow it out in an effort to start conversation in which they can address their effort to improve men’s health.

    “All the people will notice all of the beards, and wonder what’s going on. Then you can tell them it is to raise awareness for men’s health, which I feel like is kind of overlooked. We need to think about our guys.” said Reynolds senior Joseph Binkley, explaining his awareness raising strategy.

    Ultimately, the website describes it as, “a month-long journey during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness.”

    While many Reynolds students will participate in No Shave November this month, Binkley is particularly excited.

    “It is a good move,” Binkley said. “I love seeing all of the beards around.”