HOW to have a laugh and raise a serious issue at the time.

Movember is the charity that never fails to raise a smile.

Hundreds of men have stuck to the ticklishly difficult task of growing a moustache this month.

And to support them, in schools, businesses and at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, many women have stuck on false furry top lips too.

Movember has become a popular appeal with groups across the town taking up the challenge and raising money for cancer charities.

More importantly, the moustache movement which grows across the land every November is a great way of making us all think about men’s health issues.

It is crucial to educate men about the health risks they face, how to act on the that knowledge and to understand that in doing so they increase the chances of early detection, diagnosis and effective treatment for any condition they may suffer.

Great strides have been made in changing attitudes towards awareness of men’s health issues but there is surely some way to go.

If growing a moustache – or sticking on a false one – can raise a smile and a thought or two, then Movember is doing great campaigning.