Reporters Tim Collins, Sam Lennon and Thom Morris, are joining their advertising colleague Ben Watson - to take part in Movember, the moustache growing month, on behalf of the KM Group. Here team captain Tim tells us why.

Movember is a chance for people across the country to come together to raise awareness and funding for men’s health issues.

While much has been done to address diseases affecting women, particularly breast and cervical cancer, there is still a stigma in some quarters with men discussing the health issues that affect them, particularly testicular and prostate cancer.

Just as women have adopted the pink ribbon for their gender, Movember allows men to wear a moustache as their ribbon of support for their fellow man.

In 2011, over 854,288 Mo Bros and Mo Sistas raised over £79.3 million globally, with over £22 million of that coming from the UK.

Funds raised in the UK are directed to programmes run by Movember, and their men’s health partners Prostate Cancer UK and The Institute of Cancer Research.

Mo Bros sporting upper lip hair effectively become walking talking advertisements for the 30 days of Movember.

Participants must start the month of Movember clean shaven, and must keep their faces free of hair, bar their upper lips.

I decided to sign up as it seemed a really simple yet effective way of showing my support for the cause, but we each have our own particular reasons for getting involved.

Kentish Express reporter Sam Lennon, 48, from Dover, said: “This is a very personal involvement for me as my father, Peter Lennon, died of prostate cancer last year at the age of 81.

“While he was able to live with it for years, with little or no symptoms, once it spread it had terrible effects, reaching his bones and causing unbearable pain.

“Prostate cancer can be hereditary and men who discover unusual symptoms and changes should get themselves checked. It is treatable if caught in time.

“My father was actually first diagnosed 17 years before he died and he survived so long because he regularly got it checked and treated.”

Advertising Executive Ben Watson 41, from Kingsnorth, in Ashford said: “I have missed Movember the last couple of years due to remembering too late in the month.

“This year, a couple of colleagues reminded me in time and as one in particular had recently lost his father to prostate cancer, it seemed like the time to get amongst it. Who doesn’t want to have a dodgy bit of growth under their nose for a month and look a bit silly?

“It’s all in a good cause, raising some money and awareness for men’s health.”

Former Kentish Express reporter Thom Morris, 28, is now working in Gravesend for the Darford and Gravesend Messengers.

About the charity stunt he said: “I’ve never been involved in Movember and have never attempted to grow a moustache.

“I’m looking forward to helping raise money for the charity as well as being able to wax my upper lip hair into various shapes.

“Prostate cancer has not affected me or my family, but the chances are it will at some point.”

To support the team’s efforts and to read regular updates on their progress, visit http://uk.movember.com/team/571977

One in nine men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK

A man dies from prostate cancer every hour

More than 10,000 men will die of the disease this year in the UK

African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer

You are 2.5 times more likely to develop prostate cancer if your father or brother has had it

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

2,209 men in the UK were diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2009

47% of testicular cancer cases occur in men under 35, and over 90% occur in men under 55