MOVE over Tom Selleck and Burt Reynolds ¿ there has been a new group of men sporting moustaches around town throughout the month of November.

More than 100 men signed up for the month-long fundraising and moustache-growing event, Movember, which culminates this weekend with a 'Mo'town party complete with a prize-giving ceremony and a "shave-off".

The concept behind the annual charity event is to raise funds and awareness of men's health issues including depression and prostate cancer, the most common non-skin cancer found among men in many countries, including the US, UK and Bermuda.

Since its inception three years ago in Australia, Movember has raised more than $8.5 million and, according to the event's official web site, has had a significant impact on the state of men's health, prostate cancer and men suffering from depression.

Bermuda's Movember group is hoping to raise well over $20,000 ¿ not bad for a group that decided to start the project two weeks before the November 1 kick off. The group will not know just how much they've raised for certain until pledge sheets are all handed in.

Held each year in partnership with leading prostate cancer foundations, the event formally operates in Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Spain, UK, US and now Bermuda. The funds raised during the month will go towards high-impact research to find better treatments and a cure for prostate cancer.

According to the event organiser, Mike Kane, the project makes male health fun by putting the "Mo" (moustache) back on the face of fashion and in the process raises funds and awareness of men's health issues.

"Whichever way we look at it, men are far less healthy than women and we are afraid to talk about these probing issues," he said.

"Men lack awareness of the very real health issues they face, have an attitude that they have to be tough ¿ 'a real man' and are reluctant to go see a doctor about an illness or to go for a regular check up."

The hope is that men will sign up for the obvious cause to help raise awareness ¿ however, Mr. Kane also believes that men have an innate interest in facial hair, saying that "deep down I think we've always wondered what it would be like!"

While growing a moustache might be good fun, changing the mindset and raising awareness of prostate cancer is no joke.

According to the American Prostate Cancer Foundation, prostate cancer affects one in six men in the United States. In 2008, more than 186,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 28,000 men will die from the disease. One new case occurs every 2.5 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes.

It is also estimated that there are more than two million American men currently living with prostate cancer. Many of them might not even know they have it.

According to the Prostate Cancer Charity in the UK, every year 35, 000 men are diagnosed with the condition and one man dies every hour of prostate cancer.

While Bermuda's population might be smaller, the disease still affects men at a similar rate. According to urologist Dr. Charles Dyer, in 2007, out of 100 prostate biopsies performed in Bermuda, 50 per cent were found to be cancerous.

Tomorrow's finale party will be held at Level Night Club, a hot-spot located on Front Street in Hamilton. Festivities kick off at 9 p.m. and party-goers are encouraged to dress in their finest 'Mo'town ('60s and '70s) duds. There will be prizes for the various moustache styles and for highest grossing donation pledge sheet. The 'shave-off' will start at 12.01 a.m.

For more information, contact movemberbermudahotmail.com or through their Facebook page.