Movember Raises Over $700,000 For Prostate Cancer

12 December 2006

Movember Raises Over $700,000 For Prostate Cancer
Foundation Of New Zealand

Movember, the men’s health initiative which last month encouraged over 11,000 kiwi guys to grow moustaches for a good cause, has raised more than $700,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

Mo’ growers started on November 1st with a clean shave and spent the month raising awareness and funds for the fight against prostate cancer, the most common cancer in New Zealand men.

Every year in New Zealand, 600 men die of prostate cancer – which is about the same number as women who die of breast cancer over the same period.

Co-founder and Global Director of Movember, Adam Garone says the response to the inaugural Movember campaign in New Zealand has surpassed all expectations.

“We started on the 1st of the month with the aim of having 2,000 registered Mo Bros and raising around $200,000. We completely smashed those figures with over 11,000 Mo Bros around the country taking up the mo’ growing challenge and raising over $700,000 for the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand.

“All the Mo Bros have shared a month long journey and effectively donated their face for Movember and on behalf of the Movember Foundation we want to say thank you for their amazing efforts.”

Barry Young, President of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand says the Movember campaign exceeded every expectation they had and has resulted in an extraordinary increase in the profile of men’s health issues and prostate cancer in particular.

“Who would have thought encouraging New Zealand men to grow Mo’s would provide such a profile for men’s health, but it has and we couldn’t be more delighted.

Mr Young says the focus of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of New Zealand has always been to educate people about prostate cancer, create support networks and facilities and provide counselling to men diagnosed with prostate cancer. The money raised by Movember will be used to further achieve these aims.

“We have already begun using funds raised to establish new branches of the Prostate Cancer Foundation around the country and we are planning major supporting educational material to maintain the impetus provided by Movember.”

In addition to the New Zealand launch in 2006, Movember also officially ran in Australia, London and Singapore with over 57,000 registered Mo Bros and AUD$6,000,000 raised globally for male health.

Movember culminated at the end of last month with celebratory gala parties in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Mo bros battled it out on the catwalk for their chance to take
home the prestigious Man of Movember title which was awarded to Nick Clelland-Stokes of Auckland, Frank Kueppers of Christchurch and Mike Henderson of Wellington.

Adam Garone says plans are already underway for Movember 2007, to make it bigger, hairier and funnier than ever before.

ENDS

© Scoop Media