Council staff raised more than $2800 for Movember with their ‘shave off’.
General Manager Community Growth Will Gauntlett and Policy Advisor Toby McIntyre wanted to raise awareness of mental health and encourage people to get behind Movember so, at the start of the month, they decided to set a challenge for staff.
“I had been rocking a moustache since my boy Griff was born, and Toby had a big bbq-smoking, craft-beer-drinking-beard,” says Will, “so our challenge was ‘how much money would you pay to get rid of our facial hair?’ We said if we could get staff to donate $1000 in 24 hours, we would shave our faces.”
“We worked out that this would be approximately $2.50 from each staff member, so it was a realistic goal.”
It was a bit of a twist on the usual Movember fundraisers but the end result was the same – raising awareness and money for a great cause.
In 24 hours, Will and Toby had raised more than $1000 – so others jumped in and issued a new challenge: If donations reached $1500 they would shave their faces too!
“It was a great opportunity to come together and raise money for a great cause.”
In the end, there were eight hairy workmates lining up to face the razor – and, for some, it was a cause that was very close to their hearts.
“Thanks to our Mo Bros - Everard, Keith, Louis, Geoff, Rhys and Glyn, - a whopping $1,717 was raised in the first three days. Mayor Jacqui Church and our councillors also donated money, which we are incredibly grateful for.”
Since that time, there have been other Council staff taking part and growing their moustaches for Movember, and staff have continued to donate.
The final total raised was $2843, which will be donated to Movember.
“The generosity and collegiality shown to band together for this cause has been wicked and we are stoked to support Movember and raise money for a good cause," says Will.
Movember is about changing the face of men’s health by taking on mental health, suicide prevention, prostate, and testicular cancer.
A very special thanks to the Mo Bros – Will Gauntlett, Toby McIntyre, Everard Whangapirita, Keith Martin, Louis van der Westhuizen, Rhys Cooper, Geoff King and Glyn Morgan.
