November is officially "Movember" this year as the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre joined with the worldwide drive to support men's health.

To raise money and get men talking, volunteers grow their "Mos" — or shave off what they have and start anew.

The point is to raise awareness about men's health and to get sponsorship for cancers affecting men and other medical concerns. Check in at the Centre's website (www.chc.bm) to see who's taking part, and donate.

This week, The Royal Gazette talked to eight men on the streets for their views on the Mo.

Cameron Hollis was already familiar with Movember: "I tried it in the past and I'll probably leave it in the past. I did it a couple of years ago. A whole bunch of the rugby boys did. I shaved it all off. And I felt naked ... really naked."

As far as men's health goes, he said men probably didn't attend to their health as regularly as they ought to, but it wasn't a topic of much personal concern.

John Peacock: "I've heard of Movember. I've never taken part and I wouldn't be up for it. Besides, I think a moustache tickles as it grows in. It's not my style."

As for men's health, he shook his head when asked if he went in for regular check-ups.

Do men need to pay better attention to their health? "Probably," Mr Peacock said, then: "Definitely. Well, it depends on the age.

"I'm actually in medical insurance, so I think as long as I'm under 30 I'm all right. It's once you get over 45 or 50 you start to fall apart.

"There's a theory that men's lifestyles start to catch up with them once you hit that age."

Kent Simmons didn't know about Movember and said: "I don't shave. I've never shaved in my life, not even once. And I don't think I will. No, I could not be convinced.

"When I was young I told my mother I wouldn't shave or cut my hair — nothing. I cut my hair off now and then when it gets too out of hand, but that's it."

Mr Simmons said he liked his moustache too much to lose it.

He said that as a diabetic he gets regular check-ups as a matter of course. "I don't know if men as a group neglect their health. I don't."

Vance Hollis also hadn't heard of Movember and as the concept was described he pointed out, "I've already got a moustache."

When asked about getting it shaved for Movember, he laughed. "Yeah, I'd take it off, why not?"

Asked about men's health, Mr Hollis said: "Oh, I definitely think men take it for granted. Not all men, but I think most men do.

"They're starting to pay more attention to things like the colon. That's where most of us are falling short, but men are starting to get colonoscopies.

"I think most men in their first 30 years just think they're invincible.

"Once you get past 40, you start realising that you've got a family and you've got to look after yourself. But there are still some men that just never like going to doctors. They'd prefer not to know about it. I'm a man who likes to go at least once a year."

Jason didn't know about Movember and didn't think it would suit him. "You can mess with my head, but don't mess with my moustache. I've had mine my whole life. Once it came, I never cut it off. I remember once a barber came close and I almost fainted."

As for men's health, Jason said: "I think men look after their health well enough."

Asked about getting once a year routine check-ups he said: "Me, personally, I just go when I'm sick."

Michael Toyer said he hadn't grown a moustache beyond a few days. "I don't have a lot of facial hair. I'd probably just end up with a few cat's whiskers."

Having never heard of Movember before, he said he'd be interested to look into it.

Men's attitude to check-ups generally falls into the 'I'll be all right' category, he said. "I've been thinking of it myself. I've been in Bermuda a few years and I don't have a registered doctor yet.

"A lot of men will work out but don't follow good diets. And we just tend to phone the doctor or the dentist when we've got problems."

Eddie Bento, who sported a modest moustache, laughed at first when asked about Movember and the idea of getting a clean shave for charity.

"Yeah, sure, I think that would work. I've had a moustache for a long time but it comes off once every six months or so.

"I like my moustache; I could do without it for a month, but I really like having it. It's kind of like having a dog; you miss your dog when you're away."

As for men's health, he said: "I don't know. I try to go to the doctor. I go to the doctor when things go wrong. You don't call an electrician if your electricity's working."

Brian Billing said: "Just a moustache? I don't know. I think I might get some (trouble) for that, because I'm a cop. I might have to get some aviator glasses to go with it. I think a moustache just on its own is kind of weird."

As for men's health, Mr Billing agreed it was a cause that needed publicity.

"We have a tendency not to go to the doctor unless it's something severe. I'm not going to go to the doctor if I've got a cold or anything."

Asked if he'd get regular check-ups, he said he didn't think so. "Not really. Nobody does. It's a guy thing. It's just not the kind of thing guys do. But we should."