National League Rugby are delighted to announce we have once again teamed up with Movember.

Back in 2019/20, our clubs raised over £11,000 for Movember and after a season away due to the coronavirus pandemic, we are hoping we can garner similar support for the world’s leading men’s health charity.

Of course, Movember challenges men across the UK to grow a moustache in order to raise awareness for men’s health issues. It is a topic which is being discussed more openly, but there is still work to be done.

Globally, men are dying 4.5 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons, so by growing a moustache or showing your support, you can help fight male suicide as well as prostate cancer and testicular cancer.

For those who do not know too much about the Movember campaign, here are a few stats which emphasise how important it is to raise awareness for men’s health:

  • Suicide is the leading cause of death among men aged 20-34 and in 2020, the UK lost 3,686 men to suicide – that’s 10 men every day.
  • Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young men
  • In 2020, over 56,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer – that’s almost 156 men a day.
  • Movember’s mission is to stop men dying too young and they fund groundbreaking health projects – 1,250 and counting – uniting experts from all over the world to accelerate research, progress and change.
  • Since 2003, more than 6 million people across 20 countries have joined Movember.

And this is why we believe it is vital to use rugby and the National Leagues as a platform to continue raising awareness.

From the beginning of October to the end of November, we are asking clubs across all three divisions to help generate funds in as many ways as possible.

Whether that be a whole squad growing moustaches, running half-time competitions, match day collections, fundraising events, charity runs or walks, it is entirely up to you!

What we encourage you to do as an individual or as a team is to sign up to Movember.com. You can then join our National League Rugby Movember network where the money you raise will contribute to the overall National League Rugby total.

Esher’s Tomek Pozniak is currently the Fundraising Operations Assistant at Movember and he explains why the charity is important to him:

How did you get involved with Movember, Tomek?

I remember going through school and seeing the PE staff all rock a ‘Mo’ for one month, which is probably how I first heard of the charity. Then a few years later, in 2019, I became a student ambassador for the University of Bristol. After leading the fundraising there, I knew that it was a place I’d love to work in once graduating, and here I am!

What does Movember mean to you?

Oh so much! The cause areas have played a decent sized part in my life so far. I feel like Bristol Uni has a rep for sub-par mental health and it’s definitely true.

No student should have to hear of fellow students taking their own life on multiple occasions. When it’s people you’re friends with, bumped into around uni or just seen at the pub, it seriously takes a toll on your own mental health.

During my time there, I decided to try counselling and CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy), which I was recommended to do by a friend.

All this happened because I learnt to chat more to my pals, and I wasn’t afraid to admit I’ve had a bad day. It’s seriously helped me going forward – it even made me confident enough to start trying to make a real difference in improving men’s health here with Movember.

Why do you think Movember and rugby have such a close affinity?

I think the mental health and suicide prevention cause area of Movember is what drives rugby players to get involved. It’s a tough sport where you need your friends and teammates to be supportive of you, and if they don’t, you’ll struggle. At a grassroots level, you see players like Jonny May or Dylan Hartley doing work with the charity and you realise it’s a problem that affects all rugby players and you’re not alone in the battle.

What do you suggest players & their friends and families should do to get involved with Movember?

Outside of growing a ‘Mo’ or hosting an event, I think the biggest one is sharing what you’re doing with people. The moustaches themselves inspire conversation, and it’s just about having that conversation and taking the time to explain what’s going on! You never know how big an effect just a short conversation can have on someone.

What Movember message resonates with you most?

For me, it’s having fun and doing it with a smile. I’ve learnt that if I try and take things too seriously, I’ll get disappointed if they don’t go the way I want them to. Movember does such a good job of taking on these immense men’s health issues with such great positivity and it makes you want to share and talk to friends about it.

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We will also be announcing an official Movember Round in the National League schedule, so we would love to see clubs double their efforts for that particular weekend.

Throughout the month, please do send us your best photos, videos etc so we can showcase your brilliant fundraising efforts across our website and social media.

The charity’s vision is to have an everlasting impact on the face of men’s health. To donate or learn more, please visit Movember.com or contact Oswin Croft: Oswin@movember.com