MoVember looms

With the month of manly moustaches almost upon us, it’s time for Kiwi girls to get behind their men and give them one month’s freedom to grow a Mo this Movember.

While Movember places a spotlight on men’s health issues, women, affectionately referred to as Mo Sistas, are just as important to the Movember campaign, pledging support to their Mo Bro throughout the month.

“Behind every great man stands a greater women and we all know they’re the ones who really call the shots. So ladies, this Movember we’re asking you to kindly endure one month of hairy kisses so your Mo Bro can grow a moustache and spark conversation about men’s health,” says Robert Dunne, NZ Country Manager, Movember.

Beyond standing by their man’s decision to cultivate an upper lip blanket this Movember, Mo Sistas can also officially register to take part in Movember minus the Mo of course and help raise funds and awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and men’s mental health.

In 2014, Movember introduces three Mo Sistas joining the month long Mo extravaganza; Anna Reeve, Sharyn Casey, and Annabel Anderson. Anna, mother of twin boys, believes women are the driving force behind men keeping their health and wellbeing in check.

“With the twins’ arrival this year, it has become even more apparent to me that all the men in my life need to be healthy and stay that way. Kiwi men are all about ‘she’ll be right’, so often it takes the women in their life to stay on top of their health,” she says.

“Movember is only for one month, it is bearable, and the message it sends about men’s health issues is so worth the prickly, tickly thing that inhabits their upper lip for the month,” she adds.

For potential Mo Sistas looking for the motivation to get involved, men’s health statistics speak for themselves. Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among Kiwi men, with approximately 3,000 cases registered each year and testicular cancer is the most prolific among our younger men, aged 15 to 35 years. Alarmingly, 1 in 8 New Zealand men will suffer from depression over their lifetime.

Since 2006, the Movember campaign has raised $10,492,000 that has been put towards programmes both locally and globally that are having an everlasting impact on key men’s health issues of prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health.

“With the help of our Mo Bros and Mo Sistas, we’ve been able to make a big impact on men’s health since Movember kicked but there is still more to be done. Movember may be just around the corner but, ladies, there’s plenty of time to back our boys so head online, register and make it official to start collecting donations to help change the face of men’s health,” says Dunne.

Visit www.nz.movember.com to find out more and register for Movember.