Mustaches and mountaineers

Three men, Sam, Josh and Brandon, decided to take it further in honour of men's mental health and in partnership with the charity Movember - actually run the Everest Ultra Marathon.

On their Facebook, they say this idea spawned from an innocent discussion during a night out, "over a few pints". Now they're training almost daily.

They have hopes of achieving their challege at the Mt Everest Base Camp in May of 2026, running a 70 km slog from Everest Base Camp at 5,364 metres.

As of November 5th, they’ve raised $5,600 of their $126,000 goal.

Movember is a month-long charity movement to raise awareness around men's mental health, often involving participated grooming, showing and shaving their moustaches. As the movement continues growing in traction, people look to new fundraising methods.

Movember's Country Manager and spokesperson, Robert Dunne assures they didn't ask them to do this great feat, but appreciates seeing the willingness to go to extreme lengths to send a meaningful message.

"It's not something we approached them about, or something that they even approached us about. It's just great men going out and thought it would be a great way to promote mens mental health... and we try and support them where we can," says Dunne. "That's just what the movember community does, they grab it off their back and make it their own, in their way with their people."

Dunne hopes that these kinds of actions show the diversity of choices that people could take to support the cause, with the big three being "Grow, Move and Host." 

"The world changes and we have to change with it," says Dunne. However, he assured that traditional methods were just as valued. 

"It's always awesome to hold up those substantial things in light because it's cool to get people around them, but actually the success of Movember was just lots and lots of people doing a bunch of little things."

November has only just started, creative fundraisers have only just begun. From 200km running campaigns, to costume challenges, horses growing staches and cycling the length of New Zealand, it is showing that the movement is more than just a moe.