March is the month when all the rugged men of Iceland should (and probably will) grow a moustache for a good cause. Mottumars (Moustache March) is a campaign that encourages men to grow moustaches to raise awareness for the Icelandic Cancer Society, mainly focusing on prostate cancer. This is Iceland’s fourth year running, but the concept originates from Australia where a group of men came up with the idea of growing moustaches for charity during the month of November. That was in 1999 but today, the concept of dedicating a whole month to growing an impressive bristle over one’s lip is celebrated in many countries all over the world under different campaign names such as “No shave November, “Movember” and in Iceland “Moustache March”.
During Moustache March, men are encouraged to grow moustaches to show their support for the financial drive of the Icelandic Cancer Society. Last year the campaign raised over 25 million ISK and the goal this year is to do even better. The more visible moustaches, the more visible the support is, which leads to more donations. The Cancer Society makes a large promotional effort for the drive each year and Moustache March is a crucial part of that drive. All males in Iceland of beard-growing capacity should put their razors aside in March and proudly wear their facial hair in the form of a moustache.
