Mo-bro gets men talking about health

Carl Ewen, who says he started shaving when he was about 11, adds it doesn't hurt that he comes from a "follicly advanced family". Photo / Jason Oxenham

Proud moustache-grower Carl Ewen says Movember about more than raising funds.

Carl Ewen knows how to grow a good mo. He says it also helps that he's from a "follicly advanced family".

"Yes, I was a quick one with puberty and started shaving when I was about 11 so there's always been a little bit there," says the Aucklander.

Mr Ewen, 31, who also runs Mobro.co.nz, is one of the thousands taking part in Movember, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary.

Five thousand Kiwis have already signed up at Movember.com, be it taking part in a workplace challenge or aiming to be more creative than the previous year.

Mr Ewen, student recreation manager at AUT's student movement, has been involved since the event's inception.

"Probably for the first two years I just grew a moustache and didn't sign up or raise any money; I just thought 'oh yeah, I like growing facial hair' ...

"It wasn't until my third year that I actually signed up and raised a bit of money and then began to get more and more involved and from there it's become a part of my daily life."

He'd always had an affinity with facial hair, due to his generous genetic make-up, so being able to champion a cause was even better.

"My biggest focus for Movember is not just about raising money, it's getting those conversations started.

"Just starting talking about a moustache you can talk about men's health and the mental health aspect of it ... guys particularly don't like to talk about it and it's a real shame, especially when you see the ridiculous statistics coming out with the male suicide rate."

His younger brother, Louis, 28 - "notorious" for growing beards - was on board this year along with their father, Rex, who was also a big advocate for the cause.

Meanwhile, about 95 per cent of warehousing and transport company MOVE Logistics' staff are men, with about half taking part in Movember.

The company has so far raised $4000 and has made moustaches for all of its 100-truck fleet.

All Black lock Brodie Retallick - in the running for New Zealand's tallest mo at 2.04m - is also taking part.

Movember Foundation country manager Robert Dunne said every bit of support helped in the crusade to stop men from suffering in silence.

For more information visit: nz.movember.com