What is NaNoWriMo?

NaNoWriMo is National Novel Writing Month and is always in November as far as I know at this time.
Participants challenge themselves to write at least fifty thousand words in novel form in thirty days.
Why? There is no monetary rewards, no promised contracts or notoriety of any kind. So why does one take the test? The only answer is we are mostly nuts who think what we say in type means something to someone else. We who choose the road less taken feel if we can do it in a month once, we can do it again. Some authors write books at will in less than thirty days. Most of us are amateurs unaware of what to do. Nano is the straw we are grasping for this month.
This is my first attempt at it, and I am starting from scratch using some notes and seven thousand words I have twice written. Here's what I have: I started the novel I am working on many years before the publication of my first book. I accidently deleted the eight thousand words I had. I started again and am up to seven thousand words. I plan on using some of those, but mostly will be starting anew again. The story has changed in the last few weeks. I wont start writing until November first. I would only be cheating myself if I started now. I am working on it every day with notes, and thoughts. This is my challenge to myself. When I set my mind to something, it gets done!