Ashley Ruecker is unable to grow a moustache, but that hasn’t stopped her from participating in Movember.

“I started over eight years ago at my first salon,” said Ruecker, a hairstylist at Salon Haze in Regina.

“I had a client that was diagnosed with prostate cancer. He just kind of reached out to me while I was doing his hair and I decided to start raising funds. It was, I think, $40 the first couple years, nothing crazy.”

Movember is an event that surrounds and brings awareness to cancer in men and men’s mental health through fundraising events. A common way to fundraise is by growing a moustache. However, it is not just an event for men to participate in.

Mike Raymond, who has been on the Movember Regina committee for four years, said that there are many ways for women to fundraise for the event.

“Women can get involved in Movember in multiple different ways,” said Raymond, who has been growing a “Mo” for 11 years.

“The one that has been the most popular that I’ve seen, at least for our local community, is a lot of ladies who are in business have been either hosting events or providing services, say, at their salon or nail bar.”

According to the Movember website, testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men. As well, across the world, one man dies each minute by suicide, with men accounting for three out of four suicides. The site also states that on average, men die six years earlier than women.

Ruecker was initially put in touch with Regina’s Movember organization and since then she has been largely involved. She is also one of the women fundraising through her business and will be donating a portion of her monthly tips to the charity.

“I’ve just been taking donations from clients and trying to communicate with mostly my male clients just about how their mental health is through this pandemic and making sure that they’re OK,” said Ruecker.

In the past, Ruecker’s salon has done shave-offs at the beginning of November for Movember participants to shave off their facial hair and start fresh.

Another option for women is to participate by running or walking 60 kilometres. There is a significance behind why the number 60 was picked.

“The reason they picked 60 kilometres is that worldwide one man is lost to suicide every minute of every hour,” said Raymond.

Raymond said he thinks people are excited for the “Mo Your Own Way” method of fundraising this year.

“It’s basically like a choose-your-own adventure, whether it’s a test of physical endurance or a pledge to kick a habit,” said Raymond. “You set your own goals and … you move at your own pace.”

Raymond emphasized the importance of checking in on your friends and family.

“Men aren’t socially groomed to talk about all their problems,” said Raymond. “So, it’s really important to reach out and to check in with your friends, make sure everyone’s OK, even if it’s virtually.”

Ruecker echoed similar sentiments.

“It’s important to raise funds for Movember,” said Ruecker. “It’s also very important to make sure that the men in our lives are OK.”