What is Movember?

Origins don’t get much humbler than a group of mates growing ostentatious moustaches for a laugh, but that’s exactly how Movember first came to be. That was in 2003, and on the other side of the planet. Witnessing the conversational powers of such a ridiculous campaign soon led to the realisation that the moustache could be used for good.

The following year a website was set up, and a plan to raise money was hatched with all the money raised going towards Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA). Stunned at how well the campaign worked, it was carried over for a year, then in 2005 it was expanded to raise money for Beyond Blue - Australia's leading mental health foundation, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of NZ. Since then, year on year its reach has extended, and its net of support has been cast wider.

It is now a global organisation, and has funded more than 1250 men’s health projects around the world to date. Tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention.

What’s this got to do with Hector’s House?

This is where we come in. This Movember, we’re excited to get behind them and launch a split fundraising campaign. Join us on a journey through questionable facial hair, and if you can, please grow your own mo to help us out. The more eyes we can get on us, the more conversations we can start, the more money we can raise, the more lives we can save.

Whilst we are not just a men’s charity, certain arms of the charity are aimed specifically at men. This is due to suicide being the biggest killer of men under 50. On average 115 people a week die by suicide in the UK, and 75% of those are male. That’s around 86 men a week.

We are enormously proud to split the money raised with Movember to help them continue their work supporting and funding men’s health projects across the globe.

Where will the funds go at Hector’s House?

We currently facilitate two men’s groups of our own. With Hector’s Gentle-Man's Club (HGMC) running on the last Thursday of the month and HecTalk running every first and third Wednesday of the month. Through these groups we have built supportive communities of men. The aim of these groups is to try and provide men the space they need to talk freely, and to help them leave feeling lighter than when they arrive, and if/when we need to, to connect them to the relevant support.