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Introduction
In this exclusive blog interview, we sit down with , a dedicated Movember advocate with seven years of commitment to raising awareness for men’s health. Beyond the iconic moustache, Ben shares personal stories, insights, and the impact of Movember on a global scale.

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1. Personal Connection to Movember:

Ruth: How did you first become involved with Movember, and what motivated you to participate in this initiative?

Ben Gray: Officially, I’ve been involved with Movember for 7 years now, but I think there was a UK-only precursor to this, possibly going back 10 years, so can’t recall my initial motivation (maybe just to look ridiculous with a moustache). Since then, however, my motivation’s been about raising funds for and awareness of men’s health and issues around it.

Ruth: Movember is about more than just growing a moustache. How do you personally contribute to raising awareness for men’s health during this month?

Ben Gray: The last few years my enthusiasm for growing a moustache has waned, in part due to repulsion over my naked face at the beginning of the month by my friends, family and myself. Heartbreak a few years back when my young daughter, who’d only ever known me with a beard, hid behind the door declaring “You’re not my Daddy!”. Along with a hatred of the physical shaving experience. So, this year I wasn’t going to shave the beard off, instead choosing to do ‘‘ and committing to running 60km in the month to mark the 60 men we lose globally to suicide every hour. I’ve just got 6km to go and whilst it’s been an effort to get to this stage, it’s 100% worth it!

I also found a local fitness group running Movember classes throughout the month aimed at getting men together to exercise, socialise and talk about and donate to Movember instead of a fee. I jokingly said moustaches should be mandatory and then the organiser quoted me on social media, sporting his own moustache, which compelled me to join in to ‘save face’ so the moustache is back. These classes have been great to check in on other men in the community and spread the work of Movember further. But… no lie I’m looking forward to December and not having to get up at 7 am on a Sunday to do an hour’s intensive workout before breakfast!

There is so much more than just the moustache, but I do use it as a conversation starter. I feel I have to explain the look to many periphery friends and sometimes complete strangers, which is a great launch point for highlighting the issues championed by Movember and the work it does to combat these.

2. Movember’s Impact on Men’s Health:

Ruth: From your perspective, how has Movember evolved over the years, and what impact has it had on raised awareness about men’s health issues globally?

Ben Gray: Movember are now being recognised as (in their words) the leading charity changing the face of men’s health. They’ve definitely helped elevate awareness of men’s health issues, and the moustache movement has given a face to their cause, and work they do, that’s now getting mainstream media attention. There’s still work to be done, looking at the success of female health awareness and for instance breast cancer campaigns, which is now much more acceptable to discuss, as a global society we still struggle to discuss things like testicular and prostrate cancer (who wants to talk about balls and bums!).

3. Balancing Work and Advocacy:

Ruth: Managing content operations at 64����is a significant role. How do you balance your professional responsibilities with your commitment to Movember and men’s health advocacy?

Ben Gray: One of the things Movember does which I’m passionate about is raise awareness of men’s mental health issues. One of the biggest barriers to good mental health is talking about emotions, something historical norms of what it means to be a man have stunted in the past, highlighted by the shocking stats on male suicides. If men were more open to discussing their emotions with friends, family, and colleagues I’m certain the stats would be much lower. About 6 years ago I was struggling with depression myself, where it got to a point I was scared by my own thoughts and had to seek professional help. I’m happy to say I managed to turn things around and much of that was from learning about good mental health practice and at the forefront, is talking about emotions.

After I was on the recovery, I shared my own experience with my team and highlighted the importance of communication, I then introduced into our check-ins conversation points about emotions. Over the years this has become standard practice with my team, both in meetings and in general chats and I’d like to think we can all share how we’re feeling in a non-judgemental and supportive way.

I was a physical first-aider at 64����for around 10 years but when 64����said they were looking to invest in training for mental-health first aiders (MHFA) I jumped at the chance to learn more skills and validate help and advice I’d already been giving. Occasionally there’s a difficult line to walk between manager and mental health first aider and knowing where the dividing line is. I very much see empathy and mental health discussions becoming the norm with future generations, without the need to differentiate or even have MHFAs and it’s great to see my kids’ schools placing such an importance on expressing and understanding mental health, as just as important as physical health.

4. Inspiring Others:

Ruth: Can you share a success story or a memorable moment from your Movember advocacy that illustrates the positive influence it can have on individuals or communities?

Ben Gray: I’m not sure I can take credit for being a positive influence, or making that much of a change even though I do recognise every little helps. The one memorable conversation I’ve had this year was at a fireworks festival when I’d gone to one of the food trucks to get something to eat. The guy behind the burrito counter was eyeing me strangely, motioned to his lip and said, “It’s sometimes awkward to ask, but… is that a moustache for Movember?”. To which I replied, it’s definitely not a fashion choice, so yes, 100% for Movember. Now in most circumstances, I wouldn’t start having a conversation about physical and mental health with a complete stranger whilst they made me a burrito, but as mentioned earlier, sometimes the power of the moustache can be a good conversation starter, so I said obviously he’s heard of Movember, is he aware of what they do? This then went onto a discussion about how his day is going, his general health, does he have any concerns about his physical health, would he recognise signs that might need a doctors check-up, whether he’s comfortable talking about his emotions…. All of which dragged one of his colleagues also into the conversation. When I returned to my wife by the bonfire, I had to answer questions as to where I’d been and why I’d been so long, but I figure time well spent.

Donations to such a great cause are very welcome , but just having a read of to see the work they do, the projects they fund, and the advice they have to offer and/or checking in with yourself and your fellow mo bros… is all priceless!

Our Movember Legend

Thank you, Ben, for sharing your inspiring Movember journey and emphasising the significance of men’s health awareness. Your commitment, both personally and professionally, is truly commendable. Opening up about your own mental health experiences and fostering positive change within our team at 64����showcases the meaningful impact one person can have on a community.

It’s clear that Movember, for you, is more than a campaign—it’s a catalyst for genuine conversations and connections. Your unique initiatives, from “Move for Movember” to engaging in local fitness classes, bring a fresh perspective to the traditional moustache-growing narrative.

Your efforts to integrate Movember’s mission into your professional life at Alamy, promoting mental health discussions and supporting your team, underscore the holistic approach needed to address men’s health challenges.

Lastly, your memorable encounter at the fireworks festival demonstrates the power of a simple conversation sparked by the iconic moustache to make a lasting impact. We appreciate your time and applaud your dedication to making a difference. Wishing you continued success in your Movember advocacy.

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