This past Movember (the month formerly known as November), Quiksilver CEO Bob McKnight, eight-time world champion Kelly Slater and 180 Quiksilver employees from the U.S.A., France and Australia offices put down their razors and grew out their “mo” (Australian slang for moustache) to raise over $65,000 for prostate cancer research in support of Movember, an initiative to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer research. Quiksilver Foundation had the largest participating team and raised the most amount of money for the cause. The Quiksilver Foundation matched up to $100 per team member.
“We are proud to have partnered with Movember again this year and to help bring it to the States from Australia. Movember is a great way to generate awareness and raise money for prostate cancer,” said Bob McKnight, CEO, Quiksilver, Inc. “The collective enthusiasm and camaraderie within our company, from I.T. staff to marketing, production and even the team riders, only added to the fun.”
To celebrate the end of Movember, McKnight hosted a Quiksilver Movember wrap party at the Huntington Beach headquarters. During the festivities, Bud Seyedin snagged the “Best Mo” award. Other accolades went to the Mo Bro and Mo Sista who raised the most money, Andrew Akiyoshi and Becca Brown, respectively.
Quiksilver's own Brian Kearns was named “Man of Movember” at the Los Angeles Movember Gala and is in the running to become the “International Man of Movember.”
Although accolades and awards were reserved for Quiksilver employees, Quiksilver team riders were also recognized for their enthusiastic support of the Movember movement. Quiksilver team riders Dane Reynolds, Travis Rice, Tom Carroll, Reese Forbes, Jeff House, and Strider Wasilewski joined the righteous effort to grow out their “mo” during Movember.
Why the extreme behavior? One in six American men will develop prostate cancer. This year, more than 218,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer – that's one new case every 2.5 minutes – and we'll lose nearly 30,000 men from the disease this year alone.
“The aim of Movember is to raise awareness about the greatest men's health issue today by putting the 'Mo' back on the face of American men and, in the process, raising funds for the Prostate Cancer Foundation,” says Adam Garone, co-founder and North American Operations Director. “Movember is a great way for men across America to give a Mo a go, indulge in a little male bonding, have a good laugh, and do something positive for prostate cancer at the same time!”
