The University Police Department (UPD) is showing support for the Movember Foundation by raising awareness and raising money for men’s health on campus.

The rules of no-shave November are quite simple, making it easy for men to participate.

“The rules are that you can’t shave your facial hair for that duration,” Officer Givo Ysael said. “You can’t trim it , you can’t shave it, you have to grow it, and the reason for that is that it creates conversation.”

Officers Ysael and Colton Risley are growing mustaches to address some major health issues faced by men in current days.

“To ultimately reduce the number of preventable deaths by promoting awareness for men’s health issues such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide,” Risley added.

According to the Movember Foundation, prostate cancer is the second leading cancer in men’s deaths. Testicular cancer can affect men from the ages of 15-34 and three out of four men die from suicide.

“My uncle died due to health reasons a few years ago. In my family there is a stagnant history with various forms of heart surgery, so I raise awareness to make men understand the importance of these health issues,” Ysael expressed. “So when people ask myself ‘why do you have a beard,’ well here is why, because men are dying on an average of 6 years younger than women and I want to be around to witness my children graduate college.”

Ysael believes that this can be an annual tradition that UPD will be doing from now on.

“Yes, I believe so, it’s only halfway through the month [and] we have raised $345,” Ysael said. “It’s not bad that in 16 days for a smaller police department with 12 officers and a handful of staff members.”

Sergeant Cheri Silveira compares men’s health awareness to that of breast cancer awareness.

“I think it’s great to focus on men’s health,” Silveira added. “We’ve done well with breast cancer awareness and heart disease for women, so I hope men’s health awareness can grow as well.”

UPD will match all donations they raise this month to the Movember Foundation. Check out their Facebook page for more information on how to donate.