Put down the razors – it’s about to be a scruffy month. Delta Tau Delta is holding their annual Movember event and things are gonna get hairy.

During the entire month of November, men around the world will grow out their facial hair to support and raise awareness for men’s prostate and testicular cancer.

The campaign began in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 when two friends pondered what happened to the mustache. Together they convinced 30 of their friends to unite against prostate cancer by sprouting a mustache. In just a decade, this number has grown to four million, according to the Movember Foundation website.

This will be the fifth year that the Delts are participating in the campaign. The fraternity raises money for the cause through raffles, donations and by selling sponsored t-shirts with the Movember logo.

Zach Goldberg, a junior criminal justice major and the external vice president for Delta Tau Delta, believes the idea really engages people to participate and become passionate about the foundation.

“Everyone just grows out mustaches and you’ve got some really cool mustaches. And then, people like me, that don’t grow them so well, but you just put up with it because it’s all for the fun and to raise money for a cause,” he said.

Participants got a clean start during the kickoff event at The Burrow on Friday, Oct. 31. All 64 fraternity brothers shaved their faces bare in preparation for the big month.

“It’s really all about awareness. Someone sees you with a funny mustache and it starts an important conversation about men’s cancers,” said Jake Reynolds, a junior business major and Delta Tau Delta philanthropy chair.

Each year the fraternity set goals on how much money they want to raise. Last year they reached $15,000, exceeding their expectations by $3,000. This year the brothers are up for the challenge of raising $20,000.

But they can’t do it without their “Mo Sistas.” The Delts have collaborated with the sororities on campus for the Miss Movember pageant. Each sorority will select a candidate, and throughout the month she will earn points based on her participation in Movember events and how much money her chapter has raised.

So far, a trivia night and a carnival-style food eating contest have been planned.  All of the sororities will be competing for points, but the Delts hope the event will also attract people outside of Greek life.

On Wednesday, Nov. 19, the eating contest will be held in Wynam Park at 5 p.m. The venue for trivia fell through at the last minute, so a time and date have yet to be confirmed.

“When we first started it a few years back, it was just our fraternity that was doing this entire philanthropy event. But over the last couple years, we’re trying to get the school involved more and instead of hosting it we’re trying to co-sponsor it with the school to get more of South Florida and FAU students involved in it,” said Goldberg.

As part of this partnership, they are collaborating with Student Health Services for a panel on men’s health. On Nov. 12 at 3 p.m., doctors, nutritionists and health experts will be on hand at the Majestic Palm Room to answer questions students may have about men’s health concerns.

“It’s not just about raising money, it’s about spreading the message. We really think the events we have this year will have a big impact,” said Reynolds.

The Delts invite the FAU community to celebrate the end of Movember at their Stache’ Bash party at Jazziz Nightclub on Dec. 1. During the event, Miss Movember will be crowned and brothers will be awarded for growing the best and worst mustaches and for raising the most money and awareness.  Gift cards, trophies, a golf package and the coveted Movember jersey will be given out as prizes.

“So many people are affected by these cancers and we just want to come together as a fraternity and as a part of the FAU community to make a difference,” said Goldberg.

For more information about upcoming events, check out their Facebook page Movember FAU.

[Stacey Pasternak contributed to the reporting of this story.]

Other events are being finalized and will be promoted on the Movember Facebook page at a later date.