IT seems these days there is hardly an issue, illness or cause that doesn’t have its own special day.

Usually these days (or weeks or months) are designed to raise awareness of the cause in question or maybe to raise money for it or a combination of both.

Take Movember for example.

During November, men are encouraged to start off clean-shaven and be sponsored to grow a moustache throughout the month.

The basic starting point of the Movember movement is that the life expectancy of a man is six years less than a woman and that men are facing a health crisis that isn’t being talked about.

According to the Movember website, men are dying too young, before their time. We’re taking action and we need your help.

But a quick check reveals the men’s health awareness month fronted by Movember is not the only awareness day, week or month during November.

This list is not exhaustive but we had: Vegetarian November Veg Pledge; Lung cancer awareness month; Mouth cancer action month; Pancreatic cancer awareness month; COPD awareness month*; PH awareness week*; Global AF awareness week*; Road safety week; 16 Days of Action Against Domestic Violence; Stir-up Sunday*; Crohn’s and Colitis Awareness Week.

Don’t forget as well that during November, we also had the Poppy Appeal and Children in need.

Now I don’t mind all these appeals and awareness campaigns.

I assume most people are like me and pick their way through the campaigns they are happy to support.

Some I will help willingly, some I will decline to support.

And this year I will be backing the foodbank’s Christmas appeal.

(I find it really difficult to come to terms with the fact that we live in one of the most advanced countries in the world with an economy ranked in the top 10 and yet we still have families who are so desperate they have to use foodbanks. That shames us all.) But my attention was drawn to an awareness day I had not come across before – White Ribbon Day.

I did a bit of research and this is what I found on the White Ribbon Campaign’s website: “White Ribbon Campaign UK is part of a global movement to put a stop to male violence against women and girls.

“This is not and never has been a ‘women’s issue’. We address men directly – so they understand the scale of the problem and become part of the solution, alongside women.

“Men and boys have a crucial role to play in creating a culture where male violence, abuse and harassment against women and girls are simply seen as unacceptable.

“We support them to take a stand against gender violence in their workplaces, schools, communities and families.”

How sad it is that gender violence is still such an issue that we have to have an organisation dedicated to eradicating it.

But I was heartened to see it has attracted the support of Cheshire Police and Crime Commissioner David Keane who said: “The vast majority of domestic violence is committed by men against women, but it’s not just something women should be championing the fight against.

“This has to change and I call on all men to take the White Ribbon Pledge in order to challenge this unacceptable culture.”

His appeal follows a pledge as a White Ribbon Ambassador and his successful challenge to Cheshire Constabulary to follow his lead and become White Ribbon accredited.

I have been quick to criticise David Keane in the past (and those criticisms still stand by the way) but in this instance, he has nothing but my congratulations for taking a firm stand against gender violence.

*COPD – Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; *PH – Pulmonary hypertension; *AF – Atrial fibrillation; *Stir-up Sunday – The last Sunday before Advent starts when families gather together to mix and steam Christmas puddings