Garron Gsell, chief executive and founder of the Men’s Foundation and prostate cancer survivor Darren Robertson, joined Benito Vergotine in conversation on The Honest Truth.

Listen to the conversation here: Movember!!! Men Get Screened!

How will you fight prostate cancer, testicular cancer and male mental health issues?

Whatever you Grow, will save a bro!

1 November 2019 – The hairiest month of the year is here! Join the global movement that’s Changing the Face of Men’s Health. Sign up as a Mo Bro or Mo Sista at www.za.movember.com and choose to Grow, Host or MOVE for men’s health.

In the month formerly known as November, over half a Million Mo Bros and Mo Sistas across the world will be rallying to raise funds and awareness for the often ignored issues surrounding men’s health.

“Men are facing a health crisis that isn’t being talked about. We have to make a stand and stop men dying too young, before their time,” says Garron Gsell, chief executive and founder of the Men’s Foundation, which manages the Movember campaign in South Africa under license from the Global Movember Foundation.

Movember is the leading global men’s health charity, funding over 1,250 projects in 21 countries worldwide – tackling prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention. In South Africa, besides implementing global programmes, the Men’s Foundation develops and invests into men’s survivorship and research programmes. A more recent addition includes Project Peacock. Project Peacock provides the option of Low Dose Rate (LDR) brachytherapy to prostate cancer patients. In 2018, 18 prostate cancer patients received free brachytherapy treatment. In 2019, the number of men gaining access to this treatment has increased to 36.

As an advocate for Men’s Health and as a member of the Cancer Alliance, the Men’s Foundation has also been acknowledged for its contribution in developing first ever Policy and Guidelines for treating prostate cancer to be published next year by the Department of Health.

Currently, men in South Africa have a life expectancy that is seven years’ shorter than that of women. The Men’s Foundation aims to reduce the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2030.

Prostate cancer rates will double in the next 15 years. Testicular cancer rates have already doubled in the last 50 years, while three quarters of suicides are men. Poor mental health leads to half a million men taking their own life every year. That’s one every minute.

In South Africa, prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in men, while male suicide accounts for approximately 18 deaths a day.

“We have a long way to go until no man dies of these diseases. Our sons, partners, fathers, brothers and friends are facing these challenges and we need your help,” says Gsell.

This year’s campaign encourages everyone to Grow, Move or Host – Whatever you do, it all fights these health issues that are the leading causes of men’s fatalities in South Africa. Whether it’s your own health or that of your father, partner, brother or mate, by encouraging men to start the conversations, become aware of the health risks men face and get tested to become more physically active.

Visit www.za.movember.com to sign up and find out more as to how you you’d like to make a difference and change the face of men’s health.

Mo Bro’s are encouraged to start 1 Movember clean shaven. Grow throughout the month and get some serious funds behind the men who need it most.

Mo Sistas, make a difference in the lives of the men in your life! Get behind the Mo Bro’s in your life, adopt a Mo Bro in the office, help organise the teams, auction off their moustaches, or get a little creative and organise an event. Anything to attract attention and raise funds while having fun.

Mo Bro’s or Mo Sistas, do something good for you, while doing something great for men’s health. Move this Movember, and you can be the difference in a man’s life. Walk, run, cycle, swim or row. A little or a lot. Solo or in a team. It’s not about being the fittest or going the furthest. It’s about havin’ fun, doin’ good, by raising funds along the way.

“Until the recent development of the National Prostate Cancer policy & guidelines, the current reality is that government funding primarily focuses on women, children and the elderly, and there are very good reasons for this,” Gsell says. “What that means is that if we want to help men, then we have to rely on the private and public sectors to donate and invest in programmes that will make a difference.”

Help Change the Face of Men’s Health and sign up as a Mo Bro or Mo Sista. Grow a Mo, host and attend an event, or MOVE. Help spread awareness and education about men’s health. All past Mo Bro’s and Mo Sistas need to re-register. For more info, visit www.za.movember.com to download the Movember app on your mobile device. Follow Movember on social media: @MovemberRSA on Twitter or facebook/MovemberSouthAfrica.

All funds raised will go to awareness campaigns, research and survivor programmes linked to men’s health in South Africa.

It’s time to take action:

1. Sign up to help raise awareness and make a difference. Whatever you grow will save a Bro, whether it’s the First One, the Itchy One, the Salt & Pepper One, they all fight prostate, testicular cancer & male depression. Grow a Mo, Host and attend an event, or MOVE to fundraise at www.za.movember.com.– But

2. Start a Team, get the people in your workplace to join you. Have fun.

3. Set a fundraising target. Create a JustGiving page so your supporters can find you.