Insurance industry helps Canada raise record funds in ‘Movember Challenge’

Canada raised record funds in the global ‘Movember Challenge,’ with a little help from insurance industry participants. The Movember initiative started in Australia in 2003 to raise awareness of men’s health – prostate cancer in particular – by having participants grow a moustache throughout the month of November. The facial hair has become to the cause what the pink ribbon is to breast cancer research and women’s health. Over the years, the initiative grew and spread, with six countries now participating.

In Canada, Movember partners with and raises funds for Prostate Cancer Canada.  With respect to countries participating, Canada, with more than 118,903 registered participants, raised just over $21 million – a new record for the country. At time of publication, Australia was just slightly ahead of Canada in in first spot, with 129,872 participants raising just over $21.3 million.  Money is continuing to flow in and final figures will be revealed by Movember organizers in early 2011, once all funds have been received.

Based in Alberta, brokerage Rogers Insurance Ltd.’s team ranked #9 in Canada, with a total amount raised of $47,186. ICBC employees’ team grew moustaches and raised $22,000 for Prostate Cancer Canada. The team raised $18,229 (ranking 68th) and ICBC’s Giving Back to Communities program matched their efforts with a $5,200 donation. Compu-Quote, Inc. based in Windsor, Ont., submitted a Movember team of employees that raised $17,876 for the cause, landing them within the ‘top 75 teams in Canada’, with Compu-Quote’s team (listed under ‘Cypher Systems Group’) placing 70th overall.  Brian Schwab, Compu-Quote’s executive vice president, ranked 47th out of Canada’s 118,000+ participants, raising $7,705.

To keep an eye on global; team and individual Movember fundraising totals, up-to-date summaries can be found at http://ca.movember.com/momoney