Since 2004, people around the world have been growing out their hair to support a trend called No-Shave November. The movement was started as a way to spread awareness for various cancers, such as prostate cancer and colon cancer, and to raise money for research. The goal is that every dollar not spent on grooming will be donated to the charity foundation that the Chicagoland Hill family started in 2009.

The Chicagoland Hill family created the Matthew Hill Foundation – a web-based, non-profit organization that spreads awareness for cancer prevention – after their father passed away from colon cancer in Nov. 2007. Over the years, the Chicagoland Hill family has raised over $2 million dollars for cancer prevention, research, and education.

By not shaving their facial hair, participants clearly share an important message about spreading cancer awareness. Both men and women are able to embrace the feeling of having hair that many cancer patients do not have.

“I think [it’s] definitely really fun and something you can do together with a group of friends for a great cause,” said senior Chad Sasiadek. “I don’t think a lot of people know about the true meaning behind No-Shave November, so it’s really cool to see something that has such popularity have a great cause behind it.”

However, the movement’s origins started long before the Matthew Hill Foundation, which is one of the leading organizations that spreads the campaign. As early as 1999, a group of young men in Australia started the idea of growing mustaches for charity throughout the month of November. Later in 2004, people all around the world launched events to support the movement.

Mr. Guy Stump said that the idea of not shaving makes it very appealing to join the campaign.

“The idea of being rugged[, for] even a month, while aggravating wives or girlfriends, or even having a new look, makes it fun for us,” said Stump. “In the end when we discover it’s for a male-only cause it makes it even better and only enhances the fun. I think if someone is capable of growing out a beard and they won’t get in trouble at work or with partners, I think that it’s likely that they will join the hairy fight.” 

No-Shave November is a cause that spreads an important message about cancer awareness. It allows others to donate money to cancer foundations and have a bit of fun while doing so. Senior Mitchell Ferren says he donates every November to the cancer foundations to show his support.

“My mother was a cancer survivor so when she lost all of her hair, I always had my hair and my beard and my dad had his,” said Ferren. “It was just to make a statement out of it so I’ve never really shaved since then.”