Medical student Connie Le shows her support for Movember
Connie Le is a bright, funny, confident woman. It helps explain why she can wear a fake moustache so easily, without a shred of embarrassment.
"Every once in a while I get into an elevator and someone will be giggling to themselves and ask, 'Why are you wearing a moustache?' And then I get the chance to explain to them what Movember is all about."
Le, a medical student at the University of Alberta's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, is one of the top student fundraisers for Movember in Canada. Movember is a global movement challenging men to grow moustaches during the month of November to spark conversation and raise funds for men's health programs. She can't grow a moustache like her male classmates do, but she hasn't let this small detail stop her.
"I would joke with them that I would be getting a skin lesion because of the all the costume glue," says Le with a laugh.
The goofy moustache comes from a serious place for Le. In October of 2013 her maternal grandfather was experiencing men's health concerns, inspiring the then first-year medical student to participate in Movember . She decided she would wear a different fake moustache every day while at school in the month of November in hopes of raising awareness and money.
In that she was a major success. Last year Le raised $3,000 through her efforts for Movember. More importantly, she helped raise the profile of the month-long initiative at the University of Alberta. She's continuing her efforts again this year, but has expanded them. This time around Le plans to wear the moustache every day of the week, on campus and off.
Le explains, "When a girl has a fake moustache hanging off her face, it draws questions in."
Even with widespread support, Le says she still takes care to wear the fake moustache in appropriate situations. She makes sure to let instructors and mentors know why she's wearing the moustache so she doesn't come across as disrespectful. She also says she wouldn't wear it in a clinical situation with patients.
There have been dozens of fake moustaches so far, but Le's favourite is one created by her mom last year, cut out from the image of a double helix of DNA. Le says her entire family has gotten behind her efforts.
"They think it's a great idea and for a good cause. Everyone in the family is very supportive."
Le is happy to say that, since the fall of 2013, her maternal grandfather has now fully recovered. Sadly, this past summer her paternal grandfather also suffered from men's health problems and was not as fortunate, passing away. And while Movember may be geared toward men, Le says from her own experience, she knows it's a movement that women should feel inspired to get behind as well.
"It affects all of us because these are our loved ones."
Medical students in the University's Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry are collecting donations at events throughout Movember. Last year they raised more than $38,000. The students' fundraising webpage can be found at http://ca.movember.com/team/1632605.