CORAL GABLES (CBS4) – A group of real life heroes have decided to take advantage of an annual ritual to help save lives in a different way.

“Last month we participated in breast cancer awareness month with our pink t-shirts, this month it’s prostate cancer awareness,” said Coral Gables firefighter Sergio Morejon.

The Coral Gables Fire Department has joined in the global movement of “Movember” when Mo-Bros and Mo-sistas sport a moustache to raise money for prostate cancer research and to send an important message.

“People always ask us, that’s a weird mustache. It’s a good conversation. We tell them why we are growing a mustache and we tell them about prostate and testicular cancer,” said Coral Gables firefighter David Perez.

The men started the month clean shaven with a $10 donation, so far they have raised more than $1,000.

The global movement began in Melbourne, Australia in 2003 and has grown all over the world. More than 1.9 million men participate around the world. The men are supported by their Mo-sistas, the women in their lives who sport a stick on ‘stache in solidarity.

But, on Friday most of the mustaches will come off. However, the Coral Gable Firefighter say they plan to make it an annual tradition.

In 2011, the “Movember” movement globally raised $126.3 million.