Movember: Successful Charity PR

Movember (AKA November) is an inventive PR success which highlights Male Health issues. Participants, (AKA Mo Bros), looking for sponsorship simply register @ MOVEMBER and on the 1st of Movember start growing their ‘Mo’ which is short for moustash. Friends, family and work colleagues are then invited to support to the cause in form of sponsorship or one-off donation.

My main reasons for finding this campaign exciting is two-fold;

1. This campaign relies heavily on word-of-mouth for its success. Mo Bros create an advert for the charity on their face, a place where everyone they encounter on a daily basis sees their commitment to the cause. It creates intrigue which then allows Mo Bros to part with some wisdom on the cause and get the ball rolling.

2. I also ♥ this campaign as its fun as well as interactive. By getting people involved in a fun campaign for sponsorship and raising awareness it means, in my opinion, they are more likely to get involved every year as well as recruit others to the cause.

My long-term aim is to gain employment in the not-for-profit sector and with the growing issues highlighted in this recent PR Week article which I think identifies the need for charities to think differently about their PR efforts; I like to see PR campaigns that interact with their publics; those they are trying to educate and those who can raise awareness and funds on their behalf.

This campaign is growing in size with a campaigns currently running in Canada, USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

I am especially loving endorsement on twitter.com by Lance Armstrong, local interest by The Med on FaceBook and Wilkinson Sword using the idea to promote awareness for the charity AND boost sales.

So whether you are a potential Mo Bro or Mo Sista, please support this cause in any way you can. Donate, grow or attend this event.

I’ve got my 'Mo'- do you have yours?