This November, sports societies at the University of Stirling have been fundraising for Movember, a charity working to tackle issues facing men’s health. The Movember charity funds men’s health projects focusing on mental health, suicide prevention, prostate and testicular cancer. In order to raise money for this cause, the Movember charity encourage men to grow moustaches in November, as a fundraiser and conversation starter.
Societies including shinty, and cricket have stated on Instagram that they are taking part in Movember to raise awareness for men’s mental health.
There have been various approaches to fundraising this November. Stirling University power lifting society are holding a mock meet up with St Andrews powerlifting, and raising funds for Movember through this. The cheer society will be hosting their bring a boy to cheer fundraiser at the end of the month.
The sports societies fundraising for Movember had already passed £ 10,000 after the first week, out of the £25,000 target. With a wide variety taking part and organising events, the week one Movember leader board was recently revealed on the Stirling University Movember Instagram. The men’s rugby society were on top of the team leaderboard, with a total of £3,054.01 raised. Marcus Scullion, one of the university’s Movember ambassadors, claimed the number one spot for individuals, with a total of £1,760.50.
Although Movember is a men’s health charity, it is not just men who are taking part. The Ladies Gaelic Football Society are competing against the men’s equivalent in a Movember distance challenge, with forfeits for the losing team. Sophie Bryson, who is also an ambassador for Movember at the university, is part of the team.
When asked why Ladies GAA believed it was important to take part in Movember, the committee said, “Ladies Gaelic Football supports Movember, because we all share the same passion to support our brothers, dads, grandas, cousins, uncles and male friendships who mean the absolute world to us. Ladies GAA supports Movember, as according to statistics men are three times more likely to commit suicide because of poor mental health. Society today has normalised through cultural influences to perpetuate the myth that men asking for support for mental health struggles are weak. We want to break this stigma, especially when mental health affects how we think, feel and act daily. Showing support is vitally important, as it encourages our male colleagues and other men to seek support and feel empowered through talking to someone or even playing sport with them.”
Sports societies at Stirling have been proving this month that they believe that men’s health is a worthy cause, as well as showing solidarity between different sports.
Feature Image credit – Stirling University Badminton Society via Instagram
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