#HOGstache for Men's Health Awareness in Full Swing

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Print this image. Cut out mustaches and use to promote #HOGstache.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The second annual #HOGstache campaign promoting men’s health awareness is underway.

Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium will become a sea of red and blue when the Arkansas Razorbacks take on the Ole Miss Rebels this Saturday, Nov. 22 – a sea of red and blue mustaches in support of men’s health awareness.

“Last year, we kicked off the #HOGstache awareness campaign with a home football game,” said Danny Pugh, vice provost for the Division of Student Affairs. “This year we are partnering with the Ole Miss Associated Student Body and Division of Student Affairs for ‘#HOGstache plus #REBELstache.’ While we’ll compete Saturday on the football field we are coming together this week to ‘Grow Men’s Health Awareness.’”

Both Arkansas and Mississippi student government groups will meet together at a tailgate event before the game. Arkansas students are invited to come and meet Ole Miss students at the tailgate between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the south side of the Administration Building at tent number 40 in Victory Village. All students are invited to stop by and promote #Hogstache plus #REBELstache.

“Helping both student bodies unite in support of men’s health has been fantastic,” said Katharine DeRossette, an Ole Miss alumna and current University of Arkansas graduate assistant in the Division of Student Affairs.  “It’s creating a friendly partnership between the two universities.”

Staff and students from the Division of Student Affairs will hand out red mustaches to all students sitting in the student section prior to the game, after they have been seated. Students will be directed to put the mustaches on for kick-off.

The University of Arkansas Department of Athletics created #StachesForSlive this month in tribute to SEC Commissioner Mike Slive to raise awareness and funds to fight prostate cancer. Slive, who battled with prostate cancer in the late 1990s, recently announced that he will retire as commissioner of the conference next year and plans to begin treatment for a recurrence of prostate cancer. #HOGstache meets #StachesForSlive during this Saturday’s game.

The #HOGstache campaign has an important social media dimension as well – one that goes well beyond Saturday’s game.

“We encourage men to take part by not shaving this month and posting their photos through social media using #HOGstache,” said Breanna Tidwell, graduate assistant for student affairs.

“Anyone can follow us on Instagram or Twitter @UA4Student. We are promoting campus events, posting trivia questions and health tips and giving away #HOGstache T-shirts. Just follow us and you can be informed and win!”

A photo booth will be set up this Friday from 10 a.m. to noon in the International Connections Lounge of the Arkansas Union for students to take “selfies” with HOGstaches. A special guest mascot is also scheduled to make an appearance to pose with students at this “selfie” booth. There will also be free #HOGstache T-shirts.

While the campaign promotes having fun with facial hair, the real purpose is to raise awareness of men’s health issues.

Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in boys and men between the ages of 15 and 35; more than 8,000 men will be diagnosed and 380 will die in 2014 alone. About 233,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 29,000 men will die from the disease in 2014. It’s estimated that 2,240 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point. More than 400 men will die from breast cancer in 2014. These are very treatable forms of cancer but survival depends on awareness and early detection. Cancer is not the only health issue men need to be aware of: an estimated 13 million men over the age of 20 have diabetes; men who are inactive have increased rates of diabetes and heart disease; men also are vulnerable to mental health issues, such as stress, anxiety and depression.