Johnny Owens, Country Director Movember Ireland on the 2022 Campaign.

One Week to Mo

At Movember, this is our busiest time in the year; readying ourselves to support the large numbers of men and women participating in our Movember fundraising campaign for the month of November. I’ve had the privilege of representing Movember in the UK, the US, and now Ireland, and I can say that the Community here is second to none. It’s incredible to see how much support there is for those courageous folk taking the plunge (some literally, in the sea) for men’s health.??

Whilst we are always impressed by the extent of your physical endeavours, from cultivating and parading a fine Moustache through the clean shaven to the itchy to the “is it/isn’t it a Movember Mo” stage, to eye watering levels of physical activity, there are 2 types of Mo that I respect the most;?

• Those that aren’t blessed with follicular fortitude, or those for whom a 60km challenge (or any other physical effort for that matter) is a real challenge, but who get out there anyway and give it a real good go. You inspire me.?
• All of you that take part, because participating in Movember is a positive act for your physical and mental health.

Seriously, Movember is good for you. We surveyed over 7,000 men through YouGov, and men that participated in Movember were twice as likely to seek help if they were struggling with their mental wellbeing, and twice as likely to be able to identify signs of poor mental wellbeing in others. They were 50% more likely to be physically active, and well over twice as likely to know their cancer risks. So, by getting involved you really can have fun and do good!?

There are other ways to get involved if you’re not up for Growing a Mo. Try Moving (60km representing the 60 men per hour that take their own life), Hosting an Event, or any other wild and inspiring activity that we call “Mo Your Own Way”. Whatever way you want to Mo, each and every one of you that participate in our Campaign are Mo Legends.?

So, as we come upon the hairy season, why not visit movember.com, sign up, and get involved???

If you don’t think you can manage a whole month, then why not try the Movember Abseil down Croke Park on Friday Movember 4th? It’s easy to get involved and we have a few spots left. Simply email [email protected] and she’ll give you all the information – entries close this Friday, October 21st.?

Why We Do What We Do?

More than ever Movember needs your help. 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime; testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer in men under 35; and sadly 75% of deaths by suicide are men. Whilst there is a lot of fun around our campaign, the reality is that there’s a serious side too that requires immediate action, and I’m proud that Movember are funding a number of initiatives in Ireland that are contributing to real impact and aimed at early intervention behaviour change and are encouraging awareness, education, action, and ultimately saving lives. I’ll point to a couple now:?

• The IPCOR (Irish Prostate Cancer Outcomes Registry ) work in Ireland has been focused on improving outcomes for men living with prostate cancer through gathering data from across the world. The IPCOR then uses this vital data to tackle the biggest needs, and create an overall improvement in treatment options, and therefore outcomes of men going through prostate cancer.?
• Hugs@Home , which is a funded program led by Michelle O’Toole at RCSI, is aimed at equipping the support network around first responders with the means to have the right conversations with those at the front line about their experiences when they get home. The goal of this project it to improve overall communication and outcomes for all involved.??
• Working with Age Action we are funding a program aimed at improving digital literacy in older men in rural locations in Ireland. Good social connections are one of the best predictors of a longer life and this group of isolated men are very important to us.??

Movember for me is the time of year that I’m out of my comfort zone the most – being bald, having no beard is really quite challenging for me, but I know that my suffering on that front is really worth it for the great work that we do.? It’s also a time of reflection for me, and I always consider how lucky I am to have a great group of friends. Social connection is so important and so for me, my Moustache is for my mates, some of whom have had incredibly challenging years. We challenged ourselves to talk more authentically and more vulnerably, and this has made a huge positive impact on our friendships. I’m so proud of them all.?

So again, I encourage anyone reading this to get involved this Movember, in whatever you can, and together let’s change the face of Men’s health in Ireland and around the world!?