Movember

IT’S TIME FOR YOU TO RECLAIM YOUR MO-JO!

It’s time for you to embrace the time of the ‘mo’ and welcome Movember in all its whiskered glory.

Men everywhere will soon be putting their best ‘mo’ face forward in a united effort to show support for this charitable cause.

The Movember Foundation is a not-for-profit charitable organisation which raises awareness around men’s health issues and funds for carefully selected charity partners in each country – with a special focus on prostate cancer and depression. This year’s funding will go to the Cancer Society of New Zealand in support of prostate cancer and the Mental Health Foundation for its ‘Out of the Blue’ depression awareness campaign.

New Zealand’s popular drama series Shortland Street is coming on board by placing posters in the hospital staff room and by issuing several of the characters such as Dr Chris Warner with stylish Movember cufflinks to wear on-screen. Fans of Kimberley Crossman will also be excited to hear that she is the latest New Zealand celebrity to show their support for the charity.

Men around the country have been registering to participate in this year’s Movember fundraiser and soon the nation will be overrun with moustaches of every size, shape and colour.

Last year 13,000 Kiwi men took part in this fantastic event raising almost a million dollars and Movember organisers hope 2009 will have even more people joining the Movember movement.

Every Mo Bro needs a Mo Sista to help them reach mo-triumph so start recruiting for your support crew today!

Movember organiser Jim Slattery says many Kiwi men are unaware of the real health issues they face and Movember works to bring them out into the open.

“We are putting the challenge out to all Kiwi men to participate in Movember and we hope that every woman will show unwavering support in her man’s quest,” he says. “If we can get everyone on board then 2009 will be the most successful year.”

The CEO of the Mental Health Foundation, Judi Clements, says while awareness of depression among men in New Zealand is increasing, more needs to be done to support those experiencing it.

“Our partnership with Movember has supported us in further developing our men’s depression campaign. Given the current economic climate, it is more important than ever that information is reaching men in a way that works for them and in places they are likely to be and that encourages self-help as well as seeking help,” she says.

The Cancer Society of New Zealand will use the money donated to research into the causes, detection, diagnosis and improved treatment of prostate cancer. It will also focus on developing national resources to promote men's health and enable regions to apply for specific men's health programmes.

The Cancer Society’s CEO Dalton Kelly says one in ten Kiwi males are affected by prostate cancer so it’s important to invest more money into research and early detection.

“We are proud to be aligned with Movember and the fantastic work the event does to raise awareness of men’s health issues,” he says.

All Mo Bros will need to adhere to the Movember rules.

Movember Rules

• Once registered, each Mo Bro must start November 1^st with a clean shaven face
• For the entire month of Movember, each Mo Bro must grow and groom a moustache according to these rules:

-    There are no beards

-    There are no goatees

-    A small complimentary growth under the bottom lip is allowed

Make sure you get behind this worthwhile cause and get ready to grow your mo! 

To find out more information, visit www.movember.co.nz.