UStA’s collective successful efforts in the Movember 2024 campaign
The University of St Andrews Movember team had yet another successful Movember campaign, raising over £40,000 this year!
Movember is a global Men’s health charity which focuses on tackling three issues that affect men disproportionately: prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health and suicide prevention. Since being founded in 2003 Movember has funded 188 clinical trials and 1,320 men’s health projects. The work of Movember is extremely valuable in progressing technologies in detecting prostate cancer and their conversations are invaluable for the destigmatisation of mental health.
The initial way to fundraise is to grow a moustache or “Mo”. However, it is not limited to this. Participants can “Move for Movember,” the Movember Move challenge of running or walking 60km across the month is undertaken by many people! “Mo your own way” opens the door for many weird and wonderful fundraising activities.
Many events have taken place in the 2024 campaign, including: Mental health drop-in sessions (run by our mental health reps), a 24hr relay, weekly cold-water dips, collaboration with bubble run, Mo darts, bake sales, 24hr tennis, hockey tournaments, and Mo ball. We asked Patrick McLaughlin, one of the Movember ambassadors to share with us his experience as a Movember ambassador: “I had the honour of being one of two Movember ambassadors for this year’s campaign within St. Andrews alongside Callum Fitzhenry. Both I, and Callum had both previously taken part in Movember so when the opportunity came around to fulfil positions as ambassadors… we could not say no!
We had the pleasure of working with a fantastic committee this year which brought our Mo team to 10 members- all passionate and determined to help the cause. Through many meetings, social gatherings, and a packed WhatsApp chat, we communicated and planned what we thought was the best campaign so far within the University.
Some personal highlights from the campaign include those of Mo Darts, the weekly sea plunges, and the 24-hour relay where we had 48 consecutive spots filled and running smoothly throughout the day. These events were both action packed but at the same time all raised fantastic funds which went towards our grand fundraising total.
Together, as a university, we managed to raise an outstanding £40,227 which left us at the top raising Scottish University and 13th out of all the partaking UK universities. I think given the sheer small size of our student body, to raise this amount just enhanced how hard working and dedicated all the staff, students, and clubs within St. Andrews are during the month of November. Notably as well, I managed to raise a total of £1610 which left me as the highest individual fundraiser within the university for a second year running- I could not be prouder of this as I know the effort which goes into raising funds goes towards a truly great cause. Furthermore, I would like to shoutout the Rugby Club in raising a remarkable £21,597 leaving them as the third highest raising club within the UK and the highest in Scotland which is outstanding from all those involved.
I can proudly say on behalf of myself, Callum, and our committee that it has been an absolute pleasure working with Movember within St. Andrews this year and we all could not be happier with the success of the campaign and again, our £40,227 total. All these contributions go towards various research companies and organisations which work hard to help improve both men’s physical and mental health.
Together, we are changing the face of men’s health and making the moustache so much more than just a facial hair accessory. I would like to finish by once again expressing my thanks to each and every individual within St. Andrews who contributed and helped out within this year’s campaign- you are all truly amazing!
I hope in the many years to come Movember will still hold a significant place within St. Andrews and I look forward to continuously contributing to Movember over the next years whilst still being a student year.”
Congratulations to the Movember committee and all participants for their tremendous efforts in the campaign! For more information about the campaign, please check out @ustamovember on Instagram.