THEY are the men of the mo-ment: during November men throughout St Albans, including at a local secondary school, freed their follicles from a daily shave in support of men’s health.

Movember, the month formerly known as November, has become the month that men around the world grow a moustache to raise awareness and funds for men’s health, specifically prostate and testicular cancer.

It was established Down Under in 2003 by a few friends sharing a pint in an Australian pub.

Money raised during the moustache-growing month goes to programmes supporting prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.

Funds raised within the UK are directed to programmes run directly by Prostate Cancer UK and the Institute of Cancer Research.

The hairy faces of 13 St Columba’s College teachers raised about �1,000.

At Archant, owners of the Herts Advertiser, nine members of the advertising team raised over �1,700, with one employee admitting his girlfriend was “not very impressed”.

Anmol Paul, leisure consultant for the Herts Ad, and Ross Mealing, sales executive for Archant trade recruitment, said people had been very supportive of their efforts.

Three staff members at St Albans based Spreadex also completed Movember, raising over �200.

Meanwhile, at The White Lion pub in Sopwell Lane, landlord David Worcester celebrated eight years in charge by growing his own Cavalier-style moustache.

He was joined in his efforts by Rob Last, Adrian Hilton and Ray Jackson, with the quartet raising more than �1,400 for the Movember campaign.

Rob said of his own facial fuzz: “It has nearly driven me mad and I have been looking forward to having it shaved off.

“It’s a great cause but not without a price as my wife has banned all kissing as she hates my newfound face furniture!”

Lerraine Rand of St Albans salon The Village Barbers volunteered to remove the ’taches in front of a packed crowd on Saturday.

According to website uk.movember.com each registered “Mo Bro” must begin November with a clean-shaven face, and then grow and groom a moustache for the entire month. The “mo” cannot be connected to sideburns as that “is considered a beard”.

Mo Bros effectively become walking, talking billboards during the 30 days of Movember and raise awareness by prompting conversation around the often ignored issue of men’s health.

Keeping a bristly upper lip has helped men around the world talk about health issues – in the UK, one in nine men is diagnosed with prostate cancer and a new case every 15 minutes.

Occurrences of prostate cancer in men are comparable to the rates of breast cancer in women.