Donate at Gerard’s Equipment, Beyond Bliss, Canadian Tire and Pharmasave

Members of the Oliver Fire Department are once again participating in the Movember campaign by growing moustaches in support of Men’s Health programs in Canada.

We appreciate the support of the community in donating to the Oliver Fire Department or it’s members however, more importantly in helping us raise awareness of Prostate Cancer and Men’s Mental Health issues in Canada. You can donate here: http://moteam.co/oliver-fire-department

On average, men die at a significantly younger age than women – the average life expectancy for Canadian men is four years less than women (presently 78 compared to 82), however there is no biological reason for this. The reasons for the poor state of men’s health in Canada and around the world are numerous and complex.

From Movember’s perspective the reasons for the poor state of men’s health include: •    lack of awareness and understanding of the health issues men face •    men not openly discussing their health and how they’re feeling •    reluctance to take action when men don’t feel physical or mentally well •    men engaging in risky activities that threaten their health  •    stigmas surrounding mental health

Movember aims to change the face of men’s health and reverse this way of thinking by putting a fun twist on this serious issue. Using the moustache as a catalyst, we want to bring about change and give men the opportunity and confidence to learn and talk about their health more openly and take action.

Using scary stats to motivate people is not how we roll at Movember, but the facts below are too startling to ignore…  •    The average life expectancy for men is four to five years less than women. •    1 in 4 Canadians are expected to die from cancer. •    1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. •    In 2013, 26,500 new cases of prostate cancer will be diagnosed in men and 4,000 will lose their battle. •    1 in 4 cancer patients experience clinical depression •    Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men between the ages of 15 and 29. •    Tobacco is the single most preventable cause of cancer in Canada, responsible for over 37,000 death annually. •    1 in every 11 men will develop lung cancer. •    While not as common, men can get breast cancer. About 200 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed among men and about 55 men will die from the disease. •    More than 75,000 cases of non-melanoma skin cancer are diagnosed each year in Canada. •    An estimated 6.6% of the population over the age of 20 has diabetes in Canada. •    Approximately 6 million Canadian adults have high blood pressure, representing 19% of the adult population; 17% are unaware of their condition. Even 30 year olds can have high blood pressure! •    1 in 5 of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness each year •    Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women.