Leo Burnett Combats Cancer with Man Hair

Nothing says "manly" like a manly manly mustache. So why not use its follicle-rich power to fight prostate cancer, that most castrating of man-diseases? That's what Leo Burnett did.

For the month of what came to be called "Movember" ("mo" being slang for "mustache" in Australia), employees at Leo Burnett, Chicago grew mustaches to raise money for prostate cancer research. Part of the game was competing with the Australia office. (Witness the hijinks for yourself.)

Chicago, which beat the Aussies in both donation and 'stache style, raised $7000 for the cause. For an additional $10 donation, employees were offered a signed Men of Movember 2008 calendar.

Guess what! Now you can have one too. And if anybody asks why a calendar of hairy strangers is hanging over the water cooler, just tell them you helped fight cancer.

Only pray they don't ask what one has to do with the other. Out loud and to somebody who's probably gunning for your cubicle, telling this story is strangely tiring.