Physiotherapist, husband, dad, brother, mate, Scott Wills is growing a mo for Movember; he’s also moving for Movember to raise funds and awareness.

His motivation? Scott is raising both funds and awareness this Movember for all the dads, brothers, sons and mates in our lives.

“As we all know, the New Zealand male culture is a bit macho and we don’t like to talk about our feelings – and I can definitely be put under that umbrella,” Scott said.

“So it’s important that we learn to speak out.

“It’s not going to happen just like that over the course of one Movember, but as we hear it more and more, hopefully it just becomes part of our normal culture.

“For me, it’s mostly about how important it is to just listen and try to understand and be empathetic, without needing to have the answers.

“You don’t need to be in the conversation, don’t need to say anything, sometimes people just need to talk, and it can be like a big burden coming off their chest when that happens.

“If you can listen without putting your two cents worth in, they just keep going and give you more, and unloading can be a big relief.”

And Scott said as a physio, he sees how good it is when people feel comfortable enough to talk to him about not only physical issues, but the impact of not being able to do the active things they love to do.

Even small things can take a toll mentally, he said, and just talking about it really helps.

Scott took a pre-Movember selfie to show just what he was shaving off.

Scott has set a goal to raise $500 for the Movember campaign.

“I first thought I’d run 60 k’s for the month, symbolising that one man commits suicide every 60 seconds.

“But 60 k’s for me was relatively easy, so I’m aiming to do 160.”

The reason for that number, Scott said, was that his brother said he would donate one dollar for every kilometre he ran past the 60 kilometres.

“So I want to make the bugger pay a hundred dollars,” he laughed.

“I also shaved and I want to grow a good-looking moustache.”

Scott said previously he had grown mo’s for Movember and had placed a donation jar at the NRG gym in Cromwell where his physio practice is based, to raise funds.

This year, he was setting bigger goals and getting the word out further.

“What got me into it more formally this year was my brother in law – he’s doing it himself.

“He put out a challenge to me, and I rather like a challenge so I thought I’d take him up on it.”

Scott said he was already getting donations through the Movember website from friends and NRG gym members, and he was hoping for more so he could reach his $500 goal.

“A lot of the regulars at the gym were pretty shocked when they first saw the baby face; I’d been growing my beard since last Movember and one day it was suddenly gone.”

Scott said people got a shock after seeing him clean shaven for the first time in over a year.

His strategy was to grow a full beard during the month, then on the final day to create his mo and surprise everyone.

“I reckon this year I might get the aviators out and go for the 1980s porn star look,” he said with a smile.

“Big handlebars with chops are always fun, but I’ve already done that.”

Scott said to donate to his Movember campaign, people could go to his official page or Mo space on the Movember website by clicking here. 

He regularly posts updates on how far he has run, and people can also see how he is tracking towards his fundraising goal.

Sometimes life can be tough, keep an eye out for your mates.

Don’t wait for a crisis, seek help early – contact your GP, health professional, Minister, Kaumatua or EAP provider.

Need to talk? You can free call or text any time, 24/7, on 1737.

Find online support for your mental health, anytime, anywhere at justathought.co.nz

Check out other ways to get help and support on the Central App's Mental Wellbeing button.

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