If you notice the men around you looking scruffier than usual, don’t put it down to their usual laziness. A number of them, it seems, are shunning the shears for a cause. The No Shave November movement encourages men (and women) to donate the money they would have otherwise spent on shaving-related products and services to the American Cancer Society. Well, that’s in the US. The larger idea of No Shave November is to raise awareness about men’s health issues such as prostate cancer and testicular cancer as well as mental health.

The aim is not to shave from November 1 to 30 as a symbolic gesture towards cancer patients who lose hair during treatment. The idea is also to use your facial hair as a conversation starter on the various health-related topics this movement stands for. Several celebrities have joined the movement in the past, including Brad Pitt, Gerard Butler and David Beckham.

Walking in their fuzzsteps are two members of the t2 Campus team.

“I heard about No Shave November and the cancer awareness drive some time back but never really got down to participating. This time, I was determined to take up the challenge because frankly, I love growing my beard. It’s only because of my parents that I am forced to shave and this will definitely serve as an excuse and I’ll be able to grow my facial hair for one whole month, that too for a cause! After the ALS bucket challenge, I think this is another very innovative and constructive way to increase awareness about a very important cause as well as try something that you would not otherwise do,” says Debdeep Banerjee, a third-year student of St. Xavier’s College.

“Growing up, I’ve seen my dad with a beard and always wondered how I would look with one. But somehow, I end up shaving after three-four days. No Shave November gives me a genuine reason (the cause of cancer awareness among men) to go a whole month without shaving. I started four days late since I had some work before that for which I wanted to be clean-shaven. So, instead of November 30, I will not shave till December 4. And it might even go beyond that if I look decent!” said Rwitoban Deb, a third-year student of Jadavpur University.

While No Shave November has caught the imagination of the city’s youth, there’s a similar campaign called Movember running this month as well. This word is a coming together of “moustache” and “November” and involves men growing a moustache in the month of November for the same cause. It started in Australia in 2003, and the participants are referred to as “Mo Bros” and women who support the movement as “Mo Sistas”.

So, brothers, put those razors away and join the cause, however lush your face forest or sparse your cheek fuzz!