Rotorua residents take on Movember to shine spotlight on men's health

Resident Colin Painter and staff member Garry Rodgers are taking on Movember to raise awareness of men's health. Photo / Stephen Parker

Residents and staff at a Rotorua rest home have ditched their facial grooming routines for the month in a bid to raise awareness of men's health.

Garry Rodgers works in the maintenance department at The Gardens Care Home and is a week into the Movember challenge.

Rodgers said he had always thought about getting involved in Movember and this year was the perfect opportunity to do it alongside his colleagues.

He said Movember was the time to raise awareness of men's health and help bring up the conversation of getting check-ups and talking about health issues.

"It's a good idea because you hear all the time how men never want to go to the doctor," he said.

Rodgers' normal look was to be cleanly shaven and people had already started to notice the stubble coming through.

"People have already been asking me what the beard is about and that's a way to talk about it," he said.

Care home manager Sacha Mountfort said staff and residents were getting behind Movember because prostate cancer was relevant to a lot of people.

"Cancer affects most of us here in one way or another at The Gardens Care Home and we also value and support the wonderful relationship we have with the Hospice team here in our community," she said.

A big "shave off" event will be held on November 30 where participants will shave off the beards and moustaches they have been crafting all month.

Mountfort said any money raised would be donated to the cause of prostate cancer while raising awareness and support.

"Our residents are still a valuable part of our Rotorua community so any initiative like this they really value and like to go in boots and all."

The Movember Foundation

- Is the leading charity changing the face of men's health, addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention.
- The charity finds and funds the most innovative research to have both a global and local impact, independent of government funding. In 15 years the charity has funded more than 1200 men's health projects around the world.
- By 2030 The Movember Foundation aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25 per cent.