That’s Movember done and dusted for another year. Movember is, of course, all about “Mo Bros” (aided by “Mo Sistas”) getting messages across about men’s health and raising funds by growing moustaches for the month of November. Started in 2003 in Melbourne, Australia, by a bunch of thirty “Mo Bros”, it has now grown to a global movement encompassing twenty-one countries world-wide and involving some four million participants who together have raised £276m which is funding nearly six hundred men’s health projects.
Under the captaincy of Jacqui Robertson (non-playing Captain of course!) we had a team taking part. This is to let you know how “Team DFC” came together and how they fared.
Jacqui takes up the story.....
"This is the third year I’ve captained Team DFC and this has been the best yet. The club Board wanted to get involved this year and they have been unwaveringly supportive of our Movember campaign and right good sports to go with that. Favourite moments include reading Ian Crighton's commentary on what he and his moustache got up to on a daily basis and Martin Boyle being the poster boy representing our team and taking a bit of stick along the way. If a small group of fans and club employees can raise the kind of money we raised (see below), imagine what we can do next year with more people involved.
“Our club has led the way in Scottish football in raising money and awareness for male cancers and the mental health issues that these can lead to. We may have saved a life or two and that is priceless. I want to say thank you to my wonderful team who I've raved about to anyone who would listen for their fantastic fundraising and I really hope to see them all again next year."
Just how well Team DFC have done can be seen from comments passed on to us by a member of the Business and Community Engagement team at Movember, who had this to say:-
“Congratulations to Team DFC. I wanted to engage more Scottish clubs but didn’t do enough this year. I will certainly be holding Dundee FC up as an example of what is possible in terms of raising awareness and funds. You did exceptionally well. In raising £7,029 you raised more than the whole of the English Football League combined! Their total was £6,513!”
As for our team members, here are some of their reflections on the event:-
Bill Colvin — “Proud of the way the team of Dundee fans rallied round this excellent cause and delighted with the total amount of money we raised for the charity."
Ian Crighton — “I wasn’t surprised by the lack of visibility of my facial hair – a gap of 40 years hadn’t improved matters and reaffirmed the decision, taken so long ago, to be a regular shaver. The level of support from friends came as a pleasant surprise and was gratefully received. To the two sponsors who insisted on an “orange” MO on match day in return for the £100 – Thanks, I have a long memory!”
Peter Campbell — “I was Dee-lighted to join my fellow Dundee supporters and participate in Movember this year. I'm not too sure what was worse — growing the moustache or the scary selfies to chart its progress! Very proud of the fantastic amount raised and donated by the DFC family.”
For more information about Movember you can find stats and information here:-
http://uk.movember.com/mens-health