Move over Movember, it’s almost Julyna

Why should men have all the hirsute fun?

A group of women in Toronto have decided to make the month of July a time for women to raise awareness and funds for cervical cancer by growing their hair “down there”.

Yep, “Julyna”. (Wouldn’t “Julva” or “Mons August” have been more anatomically accurate?) challenges women to create media buzz with… well… fuzz:

“Julyna was dreamt up by a group of girls sitting around a booth at Le Petit Castor, in Rosedale, Toronto. It was mid-November, right around the time that Movember mustaches were looking their absolute best and Facebook invites for Mo parties were being circulated (Movember is a charity that raises money for prostate cancer. Men grow a mustache in November in exchange for pledges that go toward the cause). “Wouldn’t it be great if we could grow out our mustaches?” one of us said after a sip of her pink panther. “Well, I’m sure I could grow one,” another laughed. At that very moment there was a suggestion, “Why don’t we start a charity to raise money for cervical cancer? What about calling it muffember, or bevember, or vulvember…?” The names kept coming but it wasn’t until many months later that we came up with the term “Julyna.” The cause was obvious—as all of us knew someone who had experienced cervical cell dysplasia or cancer. Hence, Julyna was born and the rest is history.”

Le Petit Castor? **snicker**

(More after the break)

“The rules for Julyna are simple: Women will spend the month of July exercising creativity and personal wellness by choosing a style for their hair down there and sticking to it—as a fundraising technique. Women don’t have to leave it au naturel, or choose a standard pattern like “The Charlie Chaplin.” They can make something up. Get creative! Not only do we hope that Julyna raises funds for cervical cancer, but also that the added attention drawn below the belt will inspire women to take care of this area in other ways, i.e. through scheduled Pap tests or by discussing the HPV vaccine with their family doctors.”

Great idea! My only question is how will such an intimate grooming action raise visibility?

I know shorts and skirts are pretty skimpy this year, but…

(The official position: “I’ve been getting a lot of people saying “I won’t get to see the designs, so why would I give money without proof?” First of all, people give money to marathon runners and it’s rare that they will actually see him/her running. Secondly, do you really need proof of the handy work to give money to a cause that will ultimately result in saving the lives of many women? That’s right, I didn’t think so! So to all you philanthropists out there—get creative and get generous. And, if you don’t want to style your hair for money, please donate to the cause by sponsoring someone who is participating in Julyna this year.”)

Thanks to Laura Nicol and Jackie Di Caro for sharing the cause on Facebook

Comments

How do you even pronounce that? July-na, as in rhyming with vagina doesn’t quite have the right ring to it..