Picture: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
TWO Millicent men have braved the clippers and said goodbye to their “stashes” after embracing 31 days of quality top-lip twirling throughout November.
Brad Tilley and Scott Lonergan took part in this year’s Movember movement and used their moustaches to raise awareness and funds for men’s health issues, including prostate and testicular cancer and men’s suicide.
The duo teamed up with Mount Gambier nurse Wendy Lines to form the lip-tickling team “Millicent’s Finest” and have raised almost $4000 for the cause.
Brad and Scotts’s Movember bromance started in 2008, however a few years ago the cause became more personal for Brad when his father was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Through his work as a financial advisor, Brad said he has also seen first-hand the devastating affects mental illness can have on people’s lives, which has made him passionate about opening up conversations that lead to improved mental health.
“The main reason I continue to support Movember is because of my dad’s diagnosis,” he said.
“Thankfully he has made a full recovery, but it is still a cause that I love to support.
“I also love the work Movember does around the awareness of mental health and in particular men’s health.
“I am fortunate that I have not had any issues, but many of my friends, family and clients have been affected.”
Brad said he believed physical exercise such as running and walking had a significant positive impact on people’s mental health and as part of his Movember campaign he set himself a challenge to run five kilometres with somebody different every day of November.
His past Movember challenges have included a 100-mile bike ride and run, a 70km run to Beachport and back and last year’s 24-hour run.
This year he decided to take on a more logistical challenge and found recruiting a different running partner each day as the perfect way to spread the word about the importance of the cause.
Throughout last month Brad ran alongside locals from a variety of backgrounds, including footballers, basketballers, business owners, work colleagues, friends, family members and fellow running enthusiasts.
“I ran with over 40 people during the month of November,” he said.
“It has been great to get me out of my comfort zone and also for people to approach me to come for a run and help with the challenge.
“I still have over 10 people that I did not get to during the month that I hope to run with in December.”
Brad’s Movember challenge ran in line with his five kilometre a day challenge, so while the campaign may have come to an end he will still be seen around the town pounding the pavement.
Today, he would have reached 708 consecutive days of running.
December 1 was a bittersweet day for Brad and his family with his children Max and Sophie and wife Megan even having a new-found love for the mo.
“If you asked the kids a few years ago they would have demanded I shave my moustache off, but now they are old enough to understand that I grow it to fundraise and they look forward to it,” he said.
“Megan is very supportive of everything I do, whether it is running ultra marathons, running five kilometres every day for almost two years or growing facial hair for Movember.
“I am very grateful for her support with all I do.
“December 1 is always a sad day when my lip friend has to say goodbye.
“Until next year little fella.”
Meanwhile, for Scott – who has also been supporting Movember for 11 years – the campaign has been a unique and fun way to raise awareness and money for some major health issues faced by men.
“Prostate and testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention all need our attention in order to stop men dying too young,” he said.
“If the mo can help start a conversation about it then I am happy to be involved.
“As for saying goodbye to my mo, that is not going to happen straight away as one of the donations I have received came with the proviso that I keep it on until my wife’s work show in a couple of weeks.
“This will also give a little more time to anyone who has not yet donated to jump on board.”
Visit mobro.co/bradtilley to support “Millicent’s Finest” with the page active during December.
