My charity for 2014 -2015 is Movember which supports Canadian research into prostate cancer, men’s health awareness and other illnesses peculiar to men. All funds raised stay in Canada and less than 10% of funds go towards administering the charity.

We will be raising funds year round but the month of Movember (November) is of special significance for those that want get active and join in the ranks of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas who raise individual funds. Note: only the men will gro(w) a mo(ustache) – the Sistas are in there to support their men!

The first step is for individual Bros and Sistas to sign up online with Movember Canada at http://ca.movember.com/ – the sign up button is top right (if you participated last year you still have to sign up for this year’s campaign). You will be assigned your own “MoSpace” where you can add comments and track your donations. For example here is my MoSpace

I am asking all of the D.D.G.M.s to make sure that there is a team that Brethren in their District can join – that involves one Brother registering as an individual and also forming the team. He will then be the team captain. The team can be based on the District, a Lodge, a concordant/appendant body or even an individual Brother. For example the Royal Arch Masons in District 22 had a very successful team last year. Districts may also combine as have Districts 13 and 26 – their team is MoBros of D13 & D26. When you have signed up as an individual find out your District’s team name and you will be able to join through your own MoSpace.

We have set up a network that teams can join – the team is automatically joined to the network by the team captain joining as an individual. Our network is Freemasons of BC & Yukon and it is essential that all teams join so that we can track our totals and raise awareness of our efforts throughout Canada. I have already received some donations to Movember at my official visits and they and future donations will not only be sent in to Movember but will also be accredited to the District’s team when I am advised of its formation and name.

As a fraternity I believe it is appropriate that we support the aims of the Movember charity. And from the support demonstrated by our Brethren in the last two years it would seem that I’m not alone – 10 teams across our jurisdiction raised a combined $40,000 in 2012 and 2013. This year our objective is to get more Brethren involved, raise in excess of $40,000 and most of all get more Brethren to take a proper physical examination.

If you were captain or part of a team last year, want to start a team this year or simply need help signing up please email me at durellphilip@gmail.com or Bro. Craig DiRocco at freemanc22@hotmail.com and we’ll help you set up.

Brethren I hope you will join in the fun(d)raising and gro a mo and if not that you will consider supporting those that do – and don’t forget it is acceptable for Sistas to join the Mo Bros and be part of a team – oh and Grand Lodge Officers have permission to grow in Movember

Have Fun and Mo On

M.W. Bro. Philip Durell – Grand Master