Movember Cook Islands is excited to kick off a big month of celebrating men and raising awareness of their health - both physical and mental.

The only charity tackling men’s health on a global scale, year round, they have one goal which is to stop men dying too young.

Millions have joined the movement, raising $710 million world-wide and growing a mustache, if possible, to help fund over 1200 men’s health projects focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health and suicide prevention.

This month, the organisation has put together a list of events and activities to jump into including Broga with Victoria Dearlove, which will be held at the National Auditorium Domes on November 4 at 5pm.

A Round Raro Brocycle on November 6, Flash tattoos on November 13, an island clean-up on November 20, a family day at the Terevete Park on November 27 and a Movember breakfast at the Islander Hotel on November 30 are also scheduled with everyone in the community welcome to join any, and however many events they desire.

People around Rarotonga have taken on numerous Movember charity events throughout the years, however, the official Movember group started their charity events in 2019.

“As we have said before, toxic masculinity is outdated, we believe that people need the space to open up and share their traumas as we are all equal beings that have been through traumatic experiences,” said Reikorangi Ellison, member of Team Movember.

He shared that since taking part in Movember in the Cook Islands, they had people come forward to them and open up about their traumas.

Sexual abuse has been one of the biggest traumatic life changes they had heard, saddened by the fact that it has seemed to be such a common thing. “I'm grateful for those who have opened up, not only about sexual abuse, but physical abuse, alcoholism, toxic relationships, adultery, abandonment and so forth,” Ellison said.

The goal for the organisation every year is to keep spreading the awareness, to encourage people to open up and share what is eating them inside, and to also normalise men sharing their emotions, and feeling safe in doing so.

This year their extra goal in particular is to support the Compassion’s Project efforts in opening their Hub, which will add to that ripple effect of supporting mental health in the Cook Islands, including men’s mental health.