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Movember: Razors At The Ready For Shave-Off

Movember: Razors At The Ready For Shave-Off

Thousands of men up and down the country are heading to the barbers to get their Movember moustaches shaved off after raising £16m for charity.

Around 360,000 men, including celebrities, have taken part in this year's annual fundraiser, which encourages men to grow and groom moustaches throughout November to raise vital funds and awareness of prostate and testicular cancer.

Homeland star Damian Lewis has been tweeting his Movember efforts, as has former England striker and Stoke City footballer Michael Owen.

His teammate Peter Crouch has also displayed a full upper lip of hair.

Sky News Business Presenter Joel Hills has also taken part and will be getting his whipped off later.

Movember co-founder JC told Sky News: "It is incredible, we are in 21 countries now across the world so there are some crazy moustaches out there ... 1.1 million people have rocked out the moustache for us for 30 days and got involved.

"Here in the UK, a 21-year-old guy named Michael actually saw us on Facebook. He went and got checked. He had a lump - found advanced testicular cancer. He emailed me two days ago. He's had his first bout of chemo, he's had his testicle removed, and it pretty much saved his life.

"To see that happen - that's what we are really about, to get that awareness out there."

Customers at a barbers in Carnaby Street in central London spoke of their relief to finally have the unfamiliar nestling above their upper lip shaved off.

"It's been fun, but such a relief to finally get rid of it," said Mike Robb, a communications manager.

More than 160,000 men are diagnosed with cancer every year, including 40,000 who are told they have prostate cancer.

There are hundreds of support groups for women, but relatively few for men.

According to the Movember campaign, which originated in Australia in 2003, men are also less willing to talk openly with their friends.

It is hoped the record number of people supporting the 2012 appeal will result in more men starting their own support networks.

In the UK, much of the money raised is donated to Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.

In 2011, around 854,000 people across the globe took part in the charity event and raised £79.3m.