( CNN ) -- A word of warning : You might notice a few more unshaved upper lips proudly displayed by men in the next few weeks . Do n't worry , it 's not males the world over being lazy . They 're actually growing that Fu Manchu for a good cause . During Movember ( the month formerly known as November ) , men around the globe grow mustaches ( hence the name ) while raising money for men 's health issues . Movember started in Australia in 2003 . It has spread from down under to South Africa and Europe , and five years ago it reached American shores . This will be the fifth year Sydney native Neil Van Helden has participated in the global charity event . Van Helden came to the United States two years ago for work and said he is just like any other guy . Submit your Movember photos to iReport ! His reasons for joining the Movember movement are simple : `` I had family members deal with prostate cancer and friends with depression issues . ... There 's not a whole lot out there in terms of support for men with charities . It 's not talked about that much . '' He said men in general are n't good at committing to regular health screenings . `` We 're pretty terrible at it . '' But before you sign up and start growing a 'mo all willy-nilly , there are rules for this sort of thing , as laid out by the nonprofit group . First and foremost , the registered participant must start November 1 clean-shaven . Second , you need to maintain your mustache : Grooming is key . There are also rules pertaining to gentlemanly behavior , as well as rules preventing the mustache from touching one 's sideburns ( as this is a beard ) or joining the mustache 's handlebars to your chin ( as this is a goatee ) . The goal is to get your friends to donate money to your Movember cause , which is then donated to the Prostate Cancer Foundation , LiveStrong and other men 's health research and awareness programs . So far Americans have raised $ 7.5 million for Movember . Worldwide , participants have raised $ 174 million , which , according to Movember , makes the group the largest nongovernment funder of prostate cancer research in the world . According to the American Cancer Society , one in every six men will get prostate cancer during his lifetime , and one in every 36 will die from the disease . Behind lung cancer , prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in men . Van Helden got some interesting looks when he started growing his stateside 'stache . `` It 's a lot bigger thing in Australia . Every second guy has a mustache . Everyone applauds it , '' he said . With a chuckle , he added : `` Back home , the ladies like it when you have a mustache growing in Movember . Here , not so much . '' First-time mustache grower Michael Erickson is excited about his friends ' reaction to his new facial hair . He has never grown a mustache and was prompted to join Movember by some Twitter buddies . The `` marriage of social media and Movember is perfect , '' said Erickson , who is actively involved in social media in his job as director of marketing for a popular restaurant group in Atlanta . For Erickson , Movember kills two birds with one stone . `` I wanted to help bring attention to men 's health issues , which is something , I believe , that does n't get the attention it deserves . Plus , I always wanted to try to grow a mustache . '' Like most men , he recognizes that he does n't go for health screenings as often as he should . `` That 's another reason I 'm doing this : to make a commitment to myself to take better care of my own health . '' At the end of the month , parties are held around the globe to celebrate those `` who sacrificed their upper lip for the month . '' Men dress up as famous mustache-sporting characters , such as the Village People . Van Helden went as Sherlock Holmes last year -- complete with tweed and his pants tucked into his socks . He likes that `` everyone ( there ) has something in common . You 're all there for a good cause . '' 'Stache soirees have grown in popularity , prompting the fifth annual `` Stache Bash , '' put on by the American Mustache Institute . This year the bash will be held in Chicago , which was deemed to be America 's most mustache-friendly city . The event also benefits LiveStrong and the Prostate Cancer Foundation . The facial hair advocacy group has been around since 1965 and touts itself as `` committed to battling a demonstrated discriminatory culture against people of mustached American heritage '' by `` promoting the growth , care and culture of the lower nose forest . '' All jokes aside , the American Mustache Institute and Movember hope to raise awareness about an often less thought about issue , men 's health . So , if you happen to see more mustaches in November , do n't give that person a funny look . Instead , think about donating to their hairy cause or at least be inspired to get a health screening .
During November men grow beard to raise money for men 's health charities . Movember , a nonprofit organization , lays out specific rules on how to maintain your beard . Chicago , America 's most mustache - friendly city , will hold the 5th annual ' Stache ' .