Men in the UAE are being given a chance to take part in the worldwide Movember campaign by growing a moustache and raising awareness of prostate cancer.

The charity event is not officially recognised in the country or anywhere else in the Middle East – but that has not stopped UAE nationals from getting involved.

Brothers Mohamed and Peyman Parham Al Awadhi, owners of a UAE-based restaurant, have started their own Movember group – Bu Shanab, which means the daddy of all moustaches in Khaleeji – to promote the cause through Facebook and Twitter.

The campaign, which runs throughout November, was launched in Australia in 2003 when a group of friends decided the “mo” – or moustache – was due for a comeback. They decided to support prostate cancer and have since raised more than A$6 million (Dh20.6m) in Australia alone. Worldwide, the Movember Foundation has raised A$60m. The disease is the second biggest cause of deaths from cancer among men – but doctors and Movember organisers say the level of awareness is too low.

The American Cancer Society reports that one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer – with one in 35 dying as a result. Only lung cancer kills more American men, and doctors in the UAE say more men need to take notice of the illness.

“We are big supporters of men’s health and when I heard about it a few years ago I encouraged my employers to help but they refused, so I told myself when I started my own business I would do something,” said Mohamed, 35.

While raising money is not the Parhams’ primary aim – they prefer to spread the word instead – any proceeds will be donated to a New Zealand-based prostate cancer charity as there is no local group to help.

“I normally have a beard because I am Emirati and having to shave it off at the start of the month was strange as it is such a sacred thing, but it is a terrific way to say I am willing to sacrifice it,” added Mohamed.

But while the brothers went from beard to no beard, British expat Ashley Taylor, 29, has followed the more common trend of forgoing his daily shave this month.

“I did Movember last year for the first time after a friend started it up in the UK,” said Taylor, who hopes to raise money for a British charity by running the Dubai Marathon in January. “I also have friends who have had experience of prostate cancer so I decided to do it. It does not really fit with my corporate look but I have been encouraging people to get involved.”

Many of the local charity drives have been initiated by Nicole Betts, whose friend Adam Garone is a founder of the Movember Foundation. She brought the movement to Dubai after moving here two years ago. The first year Betts helped to raised more than Dh100,000 but has since seen activities grow as more people get behind the campaign.

“Because I am friends with Adam, when I moved here I saw it as a good way to help a good cause and make friends at the same time,” she said. “Men’s health is widely overlooked globally and along with raising money and awareness, Movember also focuses on men’s health in general.”

Other Mo Bros – the common name for men growing facial hair this month – have looked to the movies for inspiration. Alec Harden, Account Manager at Spot On PR, said: “Men do not really talk about important things like our female counterparts, we just sweep it under the carpet.

“What the Movember guys have done is find a humorous and fun way to highlight the importance of men’s health. And what better excuse to join the 1970s moustache hall of fame alongside Tom Selleck, David Soul and Burt Reynolds?”

Professor James Piecowye of Zayed University, who is also the host of radio show Nightline on Dubai Eye, has also been inspired by the decade and is growing a biker mo.

“I spend at least 20 minutes a day talking about Movember to everyone who stares at my face,” he said. “It is an easy way to participate in a sustained, in-your-face campaign for awareness and fundraising, and it is a lot of laughs.”

This type of support is vital to combat a disease that has no symptoms, according to Dr KR Malpani, specialist urologist at Dubai’s Welcare Hospital. He urged men around the UAE to have annual checks for the condition.

“It is the second most common cancer behind lung cancer in the older generation, but my youngest patient was 43 so you do not have to be old to get it,” he said. “A very high number of patients are diagnosed in the US because they go for check-ups so if you are 50 and above get your prostate checked during a routine appointment – it is well worth it.”

Betts has organised a Mo Party at Hive, Souk Al Bahar, this Friday from 8pm. Anyone donating to the Movember Foundation will be entered into a prize draw.

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