More than a survivor, W. Brett Wilson is one of Canada’s fiercest warriors in the battle against prostate cancer. After being diagnosed with an advanced case of the disease at age 43, Wilson has become one of Canada’s most influential voices for the promotion of early detection and prevention. A powerful speaker and passionate philanthropist, he has used his national platform to engage others in the fight against the disease by generating millions toward research, awareness and treatment. Understanding that early detection provides the greatest chance for a cure, Wilson has focused his efforts primarily on public education. His fundraising initiatives include raising over $3 million for prostate cancer awareness and treatment at his 50^th birthday party, and a cornerstone personal donation of $5 million – matched by the late Daryl K. (Doc) Seaman – toward the formation of the Southern Calgary Institute of Urology, one of Canada’s largest and most comprehensive facilities for urological health.

It’s hard to believe a men’s health movement that has engaged over 627,000 men to grow moustaches and raise more than $100 million globally, started as a simple challenge over beers. Yet that’s exactly how it happened. In 2003 Adam Garone and a few friends, joking about 80s fashion, decided it was time to bring back the moustache. In order to justify their “Mo” (Aussie slang for moustache), they used their new looks to raise some awareness and money for prostate cancer research… never dreaming their efforts would lead to a worldwide moustache movement changing the face of men’s health.

 

Fast-forward to 2010. The moustache has emerged as the global symbol for men’s health, with official campaigns in ten countries. Movember challenges men to start the month of November clean-shaven and grow a moustache for 30 days, raising awareness and funds for cancer affecting men. The Mo serves as the hairy ribbon and a walking billboard for the month of Movember, sparking hundreds of conversations about the seemingly taboo topics of men’s health and prostate cancer.

 

Adam started his career as an officer in the Australian Army and graduated from the Royal Military College with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science. After serving in the Australian Special Forces, he moved into the corporate world and completed a Master’s in Marketing at Melbourne Business School. In 2008, Adam won the 22^nd annual Ernst & Young (E&Y) “Entrepreneur of the Year” award in the social category. Adam currently lives in Southern California where he oversees Movember’s North American, and global operations. His vision is that the moustache and Movember will soon have the same global impact on cancers affecting men that the pink ribbon has for breast cancer.