McLeod, Mustaches, Movember – All for a Great Cause

By the end of November, Dr. Jake McLeod of Longview Orthopedic Associates will be a man with a mustache.

And he won’t be alone. Men throughout the U.S. will be joining him to grow mustaches in November as a way to call attention to men’s health.

"I initially got involved with the Movember Foundation during my residency training," McLeod said. "At first, it was just an excuse to grow facial hair, but now I realize what an important cause this is."

The Movember Foundation got its start in 2003 when Australians Travis Garone and Luke Slattery challenged 30 of their friends to bring the mustache back. The idea generated a great deal of conversation, and the group decided to use its surging notoriety to promote men’s health.

From that inauspicious beginning, the organization has grown to include 5 million members worldwide. More importantly, the Movember Foundation has raised more than $650 million to help fund projects that address testicular cancer, prostate cancer, mental health problems, and physical inactivity.

"As I’ve been treating my patients, it’s become very clear how unhealthy many men are," McLeod said. "This can be the result of not taking care of ourselves physically, not dealing with our emotional health, or simply not taking basic precautions as we age. If something as simple as growing a mustache can alert the public to the importance of men’s health, then I’m all for it."

Dr. McLeod joined Longview Orthopedic Associates in September. He handles a full orthopedic caseload related to foot and ankle care, including sprains, fractures, flat feet, and arthritis, and specializes in reconstructive foot and ankle surgery, total ankle replacements, and ankle arthroscopy.

To donate, go to mobro.co/drjake.