Bro’s to underline the nose for @MovemberRSA
The hairiest month of the year is upon us.
Men have been called on to join the global movement to help men live happier, healthier, longer lives.
For 30 days of the month re-dubbed ‘Movember’, Mo Bro’s and Mo Sistas around the world will be rallying to raise funds and awareness for the often ignored issues surrounding men’s health.
“Men are facing a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. We have to make a stand and stop men dying too young, before their time,” said Garron Gsell, chief executive and founder of the Men’s Foundation, which manages the Movember campaign in South Africa under licence from the Movember Foundation.
Movember is the leading global men’s health charity, funding over 1 200 projects in 21 countries worldwide – focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.
According to the foundation, prostate cancer rates will double in the next 15 years, testicular cancer rates have already doubled over the last 50 years, while three-quarters of those who commit suicide are men.
“Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute,” said Gsell.
In South Africa, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men, while male suicide accounts for approximately 18 deaths a day.
Currently, men in South Africa have a life expectancy that is seven years’ shorter than that of women. The Men’s Foundation aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 percent by 2030.
“We have a long way to go until no man dies of these diseases. Our sons, partners, fathers, brothers and friends are facing these challenges and we need your help,” said Gsell.
This year’s campaign encourages everyone to be the difference in a man’s life, whether it’s your own health or that of your father, partner, brother or mate, by encouraging men to start the conversations, get tested and become more physically active
Mo Bro’s are encouraged to start November clean shaven and then grow throughout the month, and get some serious funds behind the men who need it most.
Mo Sistas are called on to make a difference in the lives of the men in their life.
“Get behind the Mo Bro’s in your life, adopt a Mo Bro in the office, help organise the teams, auction off their moustaches, or get a little creative and organise an event. Anything to attract attention and raise funds while having fun,” said Gsell.
Mo Bro’s or Mo Sistas, do something good for you, while doing something great for men’s health. Move this Movember, and you can be the difference in a man’s life. Walk, run, cycle, swim or row. A little or a lot. Solo or in a team. It’s not about being the fittest or going the furthest. It’s about having fun, doing good, by raising funds along the way.
“The current reality is that government funding primarily focuses on women, children and the elderly, and there are very good reasons for this. What that means is that if we want to help men, then we have to rely on the private and public sectors to donate and invest in programmes that will make a difference.”
For more info and to download the Movember app on your mobile device, visit www.za.movember.com. Follow Movember on social media: @MovemberRSA on Twitter or facebook/MovemberSouthAfrica.
