Five guys named Mo: The Movember diaries
We meet five men going for facial-hair glory to raise awareness of the crisis in men's health
It's November, meaning it's Movember time again and this year, five motorcyclists have created the Movember Motorcycle Club to raise money to help achieve the charity's goal to "change the face of men's health".
Movember began in 2003, when two friends from Melbourne, Australia, came up with the idea of raising money for men's health and prostate cancer by growing moustaches. They created a series of rules, designed a logo and recruited 30 men via email to participate.
From its beginnings as a conversation in the Gypsy Bar in Fitzroy, Melbourne, Movember has blossomed into the Movember Foundation, a charity that has spread around the world. Last year, there were campaigns in 22 countries and, since 2003, the initiative has raised more than £443m. Over the same period, 5,232,625 people have participated (men and women) and 1,200 men's-health projects have been funded.
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Today, Movember's focus is on four key issues: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity.
The Movember Motorcycle Club team were brought together by a love of motorcycles and a desire to do their bit. Here, they talk facial hair and bikes.
Anton Welcome
Anton Welcome is a blogger whose Maketh-the-Man has been running for about six years.
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What are you riding? It's a Suzuki SV650, a 1999 model.
When did you last have a shave? Before last night, it had been a year. I don't normally cleanly shave – usually it's a five o'clock shadow – but I had a shave yesterday evening and it almost felt like the air was burning my face. My fiancee barely recognised me the next day, she's so used to seeing me with stubble.
Movember is committed to raising awareness about men's mental health. Do you think that's something that needs more attention? Absolutely. I've done charity work for Movember before – it's a fantastic campaign to get behind. There is not enough awareness of these issues. I think slowly but surely the world is starting to recognise it a little bit more, but this is a fantastic opportunity for us to reinforce that. As men, we're terrible at talking about our problems.
Joel Clark
Joel Clark is an artist who works using vinyl to create collages.
What are you riding? I'm riding a 1997 Suzuki TL1000S V-twin "Widowmaker", as they were commonly known. I've had it for two and a half years and it's my first V- twin. A friend of mine owned it and I swapped it for my Volvo estate. I don't suppose there's a bigger contrast in motor vehicles than between a Volvo estate and the TL1000.
When did you last have a shave? Over 20 years ago. I went down to stubble with the beard trimmer maybe about ten years ago, but before that I've had some sort of growth since I could grow it, at around 16. Shaving it off for Movember is a major deal.
Movember is committed to raising awareness about men's mental health. Do you think that's something that needs more attention? I do. Over the past few years, since leaving my job in advertising and following my desire to be an artist, I think I've been on an extreme up-and-down ride, struggling, thinking: "Can I make this work as a career? Am I good enough?" And when you've come out of a previous career that lasted some 20 years and you realise that, in the end, it didn't go to plan, you can have dark thoughts, asking yourself: "Do I want to go on? Is my life falling to bits? Where is it supposed to go?" And you start to see how easy it would be to slip into that downward state.
This is also tied up with the whole men's issue of not wanting to talk to anyone and hiding it, battling it by yourself, which is a silly thing to do. The greatest thing that gave me confidence and the belief to carry on, which I keep referring back to at low moments, was that a few very close friends gave me the go-ahead, gave me the confidence to go for it, to do it. So it really helped to talk to other guys about it. If anyone turns around and just says: "Pull your socks up, stop being a baby and get on with it," they either haven't come close to experiencing what it can be like to be that vulnerable, or maybe they're just a bit blind and ignorant.
Nick Ferman
Nick Ferman is the Northern Europe PR manager for Luxottica, the world's biggest eyewear company.
What are you riding? It's a 2012 Moto Guzzi V7, which has been heavily customised and looks great. It's my favourite thing. Ever. I think I love it more than anything or anybody, apart from Mum and Dad.
When did you last have a shave? Full shave? I think in 2001. This is as short as it goes. This is stubble – a No1 razor cut. I look like a 12-year-old kid. I can't look at myself, like this, honestly.
Movember is committed to raising awareness about men's mental health. Do you think that's something that needs more attention? Yes, absolutely. I've been struggling with mental-health issues myself for more than 20 years and when I started having some problems, living in a small village in Italy in the 1990s, people didn't really talk about it. It's not as bad now, but I think we all need to communicate better – especially blokes. We still live in a macho culture: if you're a man, you don't talk about your problems. And in England you've got the stiff upper lip, too. We've come a long way and we are doing better, but not as well as we should be. And people die from it. When I read the statistics about how many people – men especially – kill themselves, it's shocking.
Charley Boorman
Charley Boorman is an actor, adventurer, writer, presenter and entrepreneur. He is an investor in London's Bike Shed, a restaurant and shop for motorcycles fans, which celebrates its first birthday this month.
What are you riding? I've got a Triumph Thruxton R - one of the new ones that the custom shop Down & Out has done a bit of work to.
When did you last have a shave? I actually have a moustache and goatee all year round, so when it comes to Movember, I'm a "movator" - I show people how they could look, give them encouragement and talk about tricks of the trade.
Movember is committed to raising awareness about men's mental health. Do you think that's something that needs more attention? For men, definitely. If you look at women, they're very good at verbalising their emotions and feelings, whereas men are not. So you meet a mate at the pub and ask: "Are you alright?", and he says: "Yeah, I'm fine. How are you?", and then you just talk about whatever. But you never say: "Are you really alright?" There's a reason there are more male suicides than female ones – the male suicide rate in the UK is more than three times that of the female – so there's an issue there.
Peter Howarth
Peter Howarth is the chief executive officer of a creative agency in London.
What are you riding? I have a Triumph Thruxton 900 – it's just the factory model, which I bought three years ago.
When did you last have a shave? I normally have a grey beard, but for Movember I shaved it all off. My wife is not at all happy about me growing a moustache, though, especially as she has a big birthday party coming up. I may have to grow an all-over beard until then and create the moustache-only look after the 12th of the month!
Movember is committed to raising awareness about men's mental health. Do you think that's something that needs more attention? Without a doubt. The terrible thing about mental-health issues is people still think there is some taboo surrounding them. If people suffer from depression, they are often ashamed or embarrassed to admit it, even though it is an illness and can be treated. Trying to deal with this sort of thing yourself, keeping it hidden, telling yourself that you should be strong enough to sort it out without help – all this can make things so much worse than they need be. Movember is a great idea, a great way of helping men realise that they can talk about their emotions without fear or embarrassment. Being able to admit that you need help from others is a huge step for many men, but often the first one towards a better future.