Movember returns with its annual month-long fundraiser challenging men across Australia to grow a moustache, raising awareness and funds for men’s health issues.
Official Mo Bros and Sistas for men’s health charity Movember successfully pulled off the world’s highest shave-down this morning, 134m above the ground atop Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge – all to raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
Despite hazy conditions from the Port Macquarie fire, Official Mo Sista and rugby 7s superstar Emma Tonegato, alongside three of Movember’s Official Mo Bros – former GWS player Dylan Buckley, Roosters recruit Kyle Flanagan and mental health advocate Nathan Birch – trekked to the summit with BridgeClimb Sydney to clean-shave ahead of the start of Movember.
Now in its 16th year the Australian-born and bred Movember movement encourages millions of men around the world to embrace the moustache in all its glorious forms to start conversations, raise funds and save lives. The itchy one, the patchy one or even the lopsided one – they all help fight prostate cancer, testicular cancer and male suicide.
To date, through moustaches grown, connections created, and conversations generated, Movember has proudly welcomed over six million supporters and helped fund 1,250 innovative men’s health projects across 20 countries. But there is still plenty more to be done.
In Australia, the stats are shocking. Nine men die from prostate cancer every day, while across the country more than 200,000 men are living with the disease1. On average, six men in Australia take their own lives every day and three out of four suicides are by men2, making it the biggest killer of males under 45. Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men.
Nathan Birch, CEO of Interbrand, is taking part in Movember to raise awareness of mental health issues after experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts first-hand.
“What I was feeling was very different to how people usually think of depression. I wasn’t having issues getting out of bed in the morning or feeling down, I was angry, irritable and my emotions were turned up to eleven,” he said. “It built up over a number of years. It wasn’t just one thing – it was the pressure of the job, my relationship with my wife, kids and boss, the financial stress of a huge mortgage, the constant threat of redundancy, and the fact that I was on the other side of the world, socially isolated. Ultimately all of those factors added up, and had me at breaking point.”
Then, Nathan received a call that changed everything. Nathan’s best friend in Australia, a loud, gregarious, funny and larger-than-life Englishman, had taken his own life. It was that phone call which prompted Nathan to take control of his life. He took the first step by visiting a psychologist, and was prescribed anti-depressants, which Nathan says helped him immeasurably.
“That call changed my life. I became more conscious of taking care of my headspace, and the impact it was having on me, my wife and children.” he said. “No one will ever be able to fill that hole left by my mate, but I now make more of an effort to reach out and stay in touch with friends and family in the UK.”
Brendan Maher, Movember’s global mental health director, said: “Having close mates to talk to and rely on during tough times is vital for good mental health. But we know through Movember-funded research that men’s social circles can weaken as work and family become the priority. Men are more likely to rely on their partners for emotional support. If that relationship breaks down, coping can become more challenging if they don’t have support around them.”
Mo Bros taking part in Movember should sign up at movember.com and start with a clean-shaven face on Friday 1st November. But participants don’t have to Grow to save a bro. Mo Sistas and those who aren’t keen on sporting a moustache can simply Host a get together with mates, or Move – committing to walk or run 60 kilometres over the month – that’s 60km for the 60 men lost to suicide each hour, every hour around the world.
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