Matt Nurick, 16, is Moriah College’s 2018 Movember Team Captain. Here, he tells us why he’s so passionate about helping The Movember Foundation put an end to serious men’s health issues…
Q. How did you first hear about The Movember Foundation?
Three years ago the 2016/17 Moriah Student Leadership Charity Captains were running the Movember initiative. I researched a bit about the Foundation and then approached the student organiser and asked if I could become involved.
Q. What made you decide to join the Moriah Movember Team this year?
This is my third year as the Moriah College Movember Team Captain. Every year, my hope is to increase the involvement of Moriah students and staff members in this initiative as well as to increase our fundraising for The Movember Foundation. This is a cause I am very passionate about, having been personally affected by a close family member’s suicide in 2014. My hope is that we can dispel myths about boys/men needing to “always be strong and keep their emotions hidden” and that we can provide opportunities for discussion about boys/men’s mental health issues. I also want to continue to raise awareness about the alarming rates of suicide in males with the hope that we can be instrumental in “stopping men dying too young”.
Q. What do you think the general perception is about Movember and is there anything about it that you think people might not know?
Movember is not just about growing Mo’s and it is not just a cause for men to be involved in, women can sign up, too. The Movember Foundation has become increasingly well recognised as a charity that focuses on serious men’s health issues. However, I believe many people do not know the details about how impactful the Foundation has been, including the innovative research that has occurred because of all the fundraising. Specifically, in 15 years, The Movember Foundation has funded more than 1200 men’s health projects around the world with the goal of reducing the number of men dying prematurely by 25% by 2030.
Q. How does it make you feel to be part of the Moriah Movember Team?
I am incredibly proud to be part of the Moriah Movember Team, I value every staff and student’s involvement as well as all those who have so kindly and generously donated to the team. I have been so inspired by the amazing efforts of the team this year, and feel so grateful that we have the support of the College to continue to have this as an annual initiative. Every year, the Pink Breakfast, which has been a longstanding Moriah initiative, has continued to raise significant funds for Breast Cancer research and I believe that it is equally important that Moriah College supports initiatives that focus on men’s health issues, too.
Q. What is your greatest hope for the outcome of this year’s Movember campaign?
We have already reached our target of $10,000 and have now raised our target to $15,000 which I really hope we are also able to reach. But, most importantly, my greatest hope is that we have created pride in every team member as well as given the message that as a community we need to be involved in tackling men’s health issues. Having the MO day in the primary School again this year is also significant as I believe it is important to have everyone in the College involved in this initiative. This year, we even have a Year 6 student as part of the team. Finally, I also hope that the team has inspired other students and staff to be proactive in being involved in College initiatives that can make a difference in the lives of others.
Q. Is it too late for others to get involved this year? If not, what can they do to get involved?
It’s not too late to get involved! You can still sign up and be part of the team, even if you are not able to grow a Mo. Also, female staff members and students can sign up and be part of the team as there is an option to walk/run 60km over the month of November. Otherwise, please donate to the team, as every donation counts.
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