Spartans. Vikings. Lumberjacks.

Marcus Aurelius. Abraham Lincoln. ZZ Top.

Nothing signifies manliness more than facial hair. Great facial hair inspires awe, whether a mustache, a full beard, or something in between.

Aurelius ruled as the philosopher-king. Lincoln united a war-torn nation. And ZZ Top did the impossible by pairing rugged beards with sleek business wear.

It’s no surprise then that facial hair has become the symbol for men’s health. And the chilly air of a November autumn presents a great opportunity.

No matter what name it goes by, Movember, No Shave November or Man Up Mahoning Valley, the idea is the same: Grow out your facial hair this month to raise awareness for men’s health issues — prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

Since 2018, the Struthers Police Department has been doing just that.

Officer James Ritter, a 10-year veteran of the department and a lifelong Struthers resident, pitched the idea of growing beards to police Chief Tim Roddy after hearing of Austintown police officers doing the same. The chief agreed, and ever since, Struthers police have been sporting beards around the end of the year.

“We extend it to the fire department if they want to join,” Ritter, 36, said.

“We extend it to our dispatchers. It’s extended upstairs as well, to the court administration.”

In the beginning, officers paid into a donation pool if they wanted to participate. The money went to Man Up Mahoning Valley, a monthlong campaign that raises money toward prostate cancer awareness.

This year, the Fraternal Order of Police made a flat donation of $200 for all officers to take part if they wished. Ritter said about 12 to 14 of the 18 officers decided to participate.

“We got a letter last year which told us how many screenings our donations covered, so that’s pretty cool,” Ritter said.

He added that this year’s participation means a little more to the department.

“Our chief’s brother was diagnosed with cancer,” Ritter said. “Out of all our years of doing this, it hit home a little bit more.”

Not everyone is going full lumberjack, though.

About 14 miles north of Struthers, in Brookfield, Jeremy Kerola is forgoing his usual beard in favor of just a mustache this month.

“I usually have a big, thick, full beard, so this is kinda odd. I’m not a fan of this,” Kerola, vice president of Uniserv LLC, joked.

He said he was at a bar with a friend when the idea of having mustaches was brought up.

“It started out as a friendly bet, me and the guy agreed to it, and it grew into 12 people,” Kerola said.

Those who don’t last the month will contribute $100 to a money pool, which will be donated to the Movember foundation in the name of whomever claims the title of “best mustache,” Kerola said.

Movember, unlike the local Man Up Mahoning Valley, is an international campaign that raises awareness for multiple men’s health issues.

It, too, began in a bar with two friends who challenged each other to grow mustaches, according to its website.

Kerola said it means a lot to participate and give back to the community, especially since his father, Joseph J. Kerola, a member of the Youngstown State University board of trustees, is a prostate cancer survivor.

“It’s affected quite a few people in my life, and I’m now deemed high risk, so I have to start going to get prostate exams this coming January,” Kerola, 30, said.

The American Cancer Society reports that about 1 in 8 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, and testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men.

Additionally, in the U.S., men die by suicide at nearly four times the rate of women, making up about 80% of all suicides, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The Lifeline offers 24-hour confidential support for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress. For life-threatening emergencies, call 911.