By JOSH ANDREWS

The Mirror reporter

Many people think of No-Shave November as a fad or social media challenge but it has a meaningful cause behind the movement.

No-Shave November is an organization that spreads awareness and raises money for cancer and cancer research. The movement has already has raised $546,902 with 18,639 members, 1,582 teams, and 240 organizations participating this year alone.

People can donate on the No-Shave November website at no-shave.org

The concept behind No-Shave November is to donate the money normally spent on shaving equipment to cancer research. The organization donates to The American Cancer Society, Prevent Cancer Foundation, Fight Colorectal Cancer, and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

No-Shave November also raises money and awareness for Feminist Led Activist Movement to Empower (FLAME). They will put the money raised toward prevention.

The movement has technical rules that allow people to keep their beard well-trimmed and groomed for work, however the literal act of shaving is forbidden. Participants may trim their beard to meet workplace requirements.

“I will not be participating this year but after learning about the history and cause behind it I would consider participating and donating in the future,” SPASH student Dale Steinmetz said.

This idea dates back all the way to Plato and the ancient Greeks. Even though November did not exist at the time, Plato wanted young men to imitate the look of the gods and grow a beard for 30 days.

The term No-Shave November was dubbed by the famous socialist Karl Marx in celebration of communism. It faded into history because he used it as a way to annoy the capitalist factory owners.

Years later, Movember, which is similar to No-Shave November, originated in Australia in 2004 when a group of friends decided to not shave for 30 days to raise awareness for cancer. The group of men only grew mustaches and not beards.

No-Shave November made comeback in 2009 when the Chicagoland Hill family lost a family member to colon cancer in 2007.