While the battle for the Ashes between Australia and England takes place on the field, the battle of the moustAshes will be happening off the field between Australian cricketers Matthew Wade, David Warner, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Head Coach Darren Lehmann as they all donate their upper lip to Movember.
The cricket stars will begin their Mo growing journey from 1 November all in the name of raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.
Australian Cricket Head Coach Darren Lehmann said he had no hesitation in donning the mighty Mo in support of Movember, one of Cricket Australia’s two official charity partners.
“Movember has helped change the way we see men’s health and with my grandfather battling prostate cancer, it’s a cause I’ll always be a huge supporter of,” Lehmann said.
“It’s great to have Wade, Warner, Starc and Johnson on board as well and I think things will get pretty competitive but hopefully I’ll have the boys covered when it comes to the end of the month.”
In addition to members of the Australian cricket team, West End Redbacks’ Alex Ross, Chadd Sayers, and Kane Richardson have also pledged to sport a Mo throughout Movember, starting clean-shaven on November 1st.
Chief Operating Officer at the Movember Foundation, Jason Hincks, believes the partnership with Cricket Australia is a perfect match.
“The moustache is such a huge part of the Aussie cricket tradition so it’s fantastic to have the support of Cricket Australia in 2013 and to also see the team and coach getting involved by growing Mo’s through the Commonwealth Bank Ashes Series,” Hincks said.
This year marks the sixth year Cricket Australia has partnered with Movember through its community action program Cricket Cares.
In 2012 the Australian cricket community raised over $112,000 for the cause taking cricket’s contribution to over $300,000 since the organisations struck up a relationship in 2008.
Now in its 11th year, the Movember Foundation has grown to become the world’s largest men’s health movement with over one million men growing moustaches to support prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health research and support programs.
Movember 2013 will see members of ‘Generation Moustache’ take to the streets, making noise for change and fighting the good fight for men’s health. To sign up for Gen Mo visit www.movember.com
For more information, visit: www.cricket.com.au/about-us/cricket-cares/movember